TYB
Expedition 75 Welcomes Crew-13 and Preps for Crew-12 Departure
October 5, 2026 1:18PM
Expedition 75 is in the middle of a crew swap aboard the International Space Station as four new crew members get used to life in microgravity and another quartet prepares for its return to Earth.
The 11 crew members have been busy packing and unpacking the two SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the orbital outpost’s Harmony module and preparing for upcoming cargo mission activities.
New Expedition 75 crew members Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney of NASA, Josh Kutryk of CSA (Canadian Space Agency), and Sergey Teteryatnikov of Roscosmos have been living and working on the space station since Thursday, Oct. 1.
They began their mission as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 after launching aboard a SpaceX Dragon and docking to Harmony’s forward port on the orbital outpost the same day.
The four crewmates have been unpacking Dragon and familiarizing themselves with space station systems as they begin a six-month space research mission.
Now, the SpaceX Crew-12 quartet, which has been aboard the orbital outpost since Feb. 14, is packing up for its departure scheduled for 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway will respectively command and pilot Dragon alongside mission specialists Sophie Adenot of ESA (European Space Agency) and Andrey Fedyaev of Roscosmos.
The foursome will undock from Harmony’s space-facing port then orbit Earth for just over a day inside Dragon.
Crew-12 will reenter Earth’s atmosphere then parachute inside the spacecraft to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean at 11:34 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, ending a nearly eight-month stay in space.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov accepted command of the International Space Station from Meir on Sunday, Oct. 4, during a traditional change of command ceremony.
Dubrov will be staying in space with flight engineers Anna Kikina of Roscosmos and Anil Menon of NASA until spring 2027.
The next spacecraft to depart from the orbiting complex will be Northrop Grumman’s uncrewed Cygnus XL resupply ship which has been attached to the Unity module since April 13.
NASA flight engineers Menon and Hathaway loaded trash and discarded gear inside Cygnus XL on Monday. The cargo spacecraft is scheduled to be released from the station into Earth orbit with the Canadarm2 robotic arm at the end of the week.
Soon after that, SpaceX will launch Dragon on its 35th commercial resupply mission to deliver science and supplies to the Expedition 75 crew.
Kutryk on Monday studied tools and procedures to monitor Dragon’s approach and rendezvous following its upcoming launch from Florida. Meir reorganized the Kibo laboratory module where some of Dragon’s cargo will be stowed after its arrival.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/2026/10/05/expedition-75-welcomes-crew-13-and-preps-for-crew-12-departure/
moar
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-astronaut-christina-koch-at-eagles-vs-rams/
https://science.nasa.gov/learn/roses25_sciact_selections/
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/moon-like-madagascar/
https://science.nasa.gov/blog/curiosity-blog-sols-5022-5028-cashing-in-at-cache-creek/
Will Kyoto Vision Embrace Artemis Accords and NASA Space Apps?
October 5, 2026
OSTP just issued this broad treatise on conducting scientific discovery internationally. 16 signatories. Sounds a lot like the Artemis Accords (76 signatories).
It also echoes the NASA Space Apps Challenge (190+ countries). I wonder if these efforts will intersect. That would actually be “Golden”.
At the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum convened in Kyoto, the United States and 16 countries endorsed the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science.
The joint declaration reflects a shared ambition to renew and strengthen our science ecosystems and usher in a golden age of discovery and prosperity.
Led by White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, the Kyoto Vision recognizes that we stand at the frontier of an immense opportunity to harness super intelligence and advance new approaches to greatly accelerate scientific discovery.
Super intelligence for science will enable autonomous experimentation at scale, unlocking new experimental and analytical capabilities that open entirely new lines of inquiry.
In light of the profound shifts in the research landscape, ministers pledged to seize this moment by harnessing new institutional models and funding mechanisms to enable the best and brightest scientists to pursue their most ambitious work.
“The way we make scientific discoveries has changed, and the Kyoto Vision is a recognition of that shift and a call to action,” said Director Kratsios. “Super intelligence applied to science will be the greatest force in history for democratizing research.
Seizing this moment requires us to reinvigorate our research enterprises and leverage new institutional models for discovery. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States is leading that charge, and the Kyoto Vision shows the world is ready to move forward with us.”
The Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science calls for:
Improving the institutions of discovery: Ministers noted the value of a using a variety of funding tools to support research, including long-duration awards, rapid grants, and prizes and challenges, and encouraged experimentation with new institutional models that offer different levels of autonomy, resources, and direction. They welcomed metascience as an empirical field to improve how science is conducted, organized, and funded for public benefit.
Harnessing super intelligence for science: Ministers recognized that SI is both accelerating existing research tasks and enabling entirely new forms of inquiry.
They encouraged thoughtful integration of SI into scientific workflows and pledged to expand researcher access to SI for science tools, scientific data, computing infrastructure, and experimental facilities.
Cultivating talent across the scientific enterprise: Ministers committed to identifying and investing in meritorious students and early-career researchers, and to giving them the support, freedom, and opportunity necessary for ambitious inquiry.
They acknowledged that progress in many technological domains depends on people who can operate, maintain, and improve instrumentation, and encouraged expanded hands-on training as well as cross-sectoral doctoral programs, fellowships, and research partnerships.
In July 2026, Director Kratsios delivered to President Trump Science: A New Golden Age, the most comprehensive rethinking of the American science and technology research enterprise in eight decades.
The report established new directions for U.S. government agencies on how they conduct, fund, and measure the impact of R&D, in light of fundamental changes to the American scientific enterprise and the new opportunities that have emerged.
The following countries endorsed the Kyoto Vision for a Golden Age of Science: Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America
https://nasawatch.com/2026/10/05/will-kyoto-vision-embrace-artemis-accords-and-nasa-space-apps/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/releases/2026/10/us-leads-international-coalition-to-endorse-kyoto-vision-for-a-golden-age-of-science/
moar
https://www.nasa.gov/general/mapping-the-gaps-in-nasas-return-to-the-moon-featuring-richard-spolzino/
https://x.com/Astro_Jessica/status/2107138683526943029
https://x.com/astro_anil/status/2107114294580015572
https://x.com/NASADepAdmin/status/2107038396346441754
NASA chief Jared Isaacman wants to stay 'open-minded' about UFOs: 'If it's aliens, I think NASA should have a seat at the table'
October 5, 2026
Could unidentified anomalous phenomena — a new catch-all term for unidentified objects in the sky, oceans or space — be pushing the United States towards another "Sputnik Moment"?
That's the belief of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who compared the uptick in reported unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) sightings in recent years to the Cold War paranoia stirred up when the former Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to circle Earth in 1957.
Isaacman made the comments in a recent interview with Blake Burman, host of NewsNation's "The Hill" broadcast on Sept. 25 that touched upon a range of space-related issues.
And one of those was probing the space agency chief about he thinks UAP might be.
Flight characteristics
Burman made note of pilot reports and videos released of objects with flight characteristics unlike anything previously seen.
"When you watch these videos," Burman asked Isaacman, "do you believe that anything that we've seen in any of this is potentially extraterrestrial. Is it military? What is it?"
Isaacman said that NASA has had "a seat at the table" since U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year called for releasing Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) and UAP files.
That call is now officially known as the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE).
"My position going into every one of these: one, be open-minded. I mean, it is kind of our job to go out and try to answer the question 'are we alone?'
And I said look, if it's aliens, I think NASA should have a seat at the table in this for sure," Isaacman said.
The NASA Administrator also said that, "if it's a Sputnik moment, we did really well the last time that happened. Which means, is this potentially red technology?
Is this an adversary that's testing some next generation propulsion? It's certainly in the realm of the possible." (In military exercises, adversary forces are generally referred to as "red.")
TV host Burman then asked Isaacman, "but what does your gut tell you?"
"I would say I would lean toward it's either some phenomenon that can happen," Isaacman responded. "There are things that can happen just like natural phenomena that can be observed.
I also think there's a good chance that there could be a Sputnik Moment that's happening and people are testing new stealthy or next generation type technologies," he said.
PURSUE and release
It is important to note that this is not permission for a whistleblower to talk to the press, a researcher, or the public," said Powell. "The same is true of this latest whistleblower waiver."
The new waiver states, "This waiver removes those barriers by explicitly authorizing covered disclosures to PURSUE representatives without triggering breach-of-agreement penalties or standard NDA violations."
"The NDA relaxation is only if the whistleblower reports their information to PURSUE representatives," said Powell.
"However, the waiver does not state how a whistleblower can identify the PURSUE representatives or how to reach them. So will anything change?
It will take a year or two to determine if any whistleblower stories are made public or if a whistleblower realizes that an individual's story will go no farther than the PURSUE representative," Powell said.
He said/she said
Furthermore, Powell points out, this new waiver does not clearly waive criminal statutes, for example Espionage Act/unauthorized disclosure of classified information.
"How does a whistleblower know if their information violates criminal statutes versus civil statutes? The new waiver does not protect a whistleblower from an NDA with a civilian corporation," said Powell.
Let's assume someone comes forth and says that they know that there is an alien spacecraft being held at Edwards Air Force Base in California, said Powell. How is that claim verified? "If it is not verified then there is little value in the efforts put forth by the whistleblower.
To date, Congress has not seemed willing to use its subpoena powers to force a military branch to provide information, concluded Powell, and until Congress is willing to push the point and investigate claims, "it just remains 'he said, she said.'"
https://www.space.com/space-exploration/search-for-life/nasa-chief-jared-isaacman-wants-to-stay-open-minded-about-ufos-if-its-aliens-i-think-nasa-should-have-a-seat-at-the-table
moar
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/exclusive-nasa-administrator-how-us-win-space-race/
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2107164777558458622
https://x.com/NASAAdmin/status/2107135544610468020
https://x.com/OC_Scanner/status/2106846671477055703
https://x.com/NASA/status/2107095768821576019
Space Force weapons may signal shift in US defense strategy: Ross Coulthart
Updated: Oct 5, 2026 / 07:02 AM CDT
Foreign adversaries are criticizing the U.S. after Air Force officials announced on Sept. 14 that Space Force had launched defensive weapons into space.
Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart says it may mark a change in the country’s defense strategy. He also says many questions remain about what has actually been deployed.
What could Space Force’s new weapons do?
Coulthart told NewsNation’s Hena Doba on Sunday that the U.S. may be reacting to possible threats in space from Russia and China. He said the new capabilities might involve technology that can jam communications or interfere with other countries’ satellites.
“One of the speculations I’m hearing from my sources is that what they’re talking about is a capacity to jam frequencies, or perhaps to dazzle rival adversary satellites,” Coulthart said.
He recalled that when NewsNation’s Brian Entin reported on Space Force operations in May 2024, military officials said the U.S. did not have weapons in orbit at the time. “If this has happened, it’s happened very, very recently,” he said.
The discussion also covered unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, and whether the government might release more information about them.
Was Trump told about a secret UAP program?
The Pentagon has said it has found no evidence that the U.S. government or private companies have copied, or tried to copy, technology from outside Earth.
The Reality Check host said he believes the government has more information about UAPs than it has shared with the public.
Citing his own reporting and unnamed sources, Coulthart said efforts have been made to attract and shoot down UAPs at White Sands Missile Range.
He also said his sources claim that President Donald Trump was told about a secret UAP program and approved an investigation into whether private aerospace companies have technology that is not human-made.
“I’m told that President Trump has become aware of the legacy program,” Coulthart said, adding that the investigation is intended to determine “who the private aerospace companies are that are controlling this alleged non-human technology.”
There was no evidence shown during the interview to confirm the existence of the program or the investigation into non-human technology.
Coulthart said he thinks the White House is now weighing whether to release more information about UAPs to the public.
“The White House is wrestling with a decision about whether to disclose,” he said.
What is ‘catastrophic disclosure’?
Coulthart also discussed what he called ‘catastrophic disclosure,’ which he described as information coming out in an uncontrolled way that governments would rather keep secret.
Referring to comments from UAP whistleblower David Grusch, he said that new developments in artificial intelligence could make it harder to keep secrets.
He also said that people who know about what he described as a secret UAP programs are becoming more frustrated with the lack of openness.
“There are people inside the legacy program who, frankly, have had enough of the secrecy,” Coulthart said. “They think the American public have a right to know.”
https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ross-coulthart-space-weapons-uap-ufo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpSDpY-UPd0
moar Space Force
https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4619222/usrok-partnership-highlighted-during-vandenberg-visit/
https://x.com/USSpaceForce/status/2106821737153273922
https://x.com/James_W_Draper/status/2107115179318092152
https://x.com/RepMcCormick/status/2106812453031993442
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Engineering_Technology/Shaping_the_Future/A_Quantum_Leap_Revolutionising_Space_with_Three_Cutting-Edge_Initiatives
moar ESA
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/MPAc_measuring_the_Moon_with_lasers
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/One_beam_many_possibilities_the_ScyLight_programme_patch
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/httpslnkdinpesar37ja/
https://x.com/Soph_astro/status/2107141820266250524
A Quantum Leap: Revolutionising Space with Three Cutting-Edge Initiatives
05/10/2024
The ‘quantum decade’ is upon us.
Quantum technologies harness the unique physical properties of atoms or photons that make them behave, on the tiniest scales, like waves instead of particles and there’s a growing focus on adapting technologies to exploit this behaviour for real-world applications.
These technologies will enable highly precise measurements in various domains such as for gravity, time and electromagnetic fields.
They pave the way for innovative devices such as quantum computers and cryptography, as well as facilitating fundamental scientific experiments exploring the limits of quantum theory and gravity.
Notably, space plays a crucial role in many of these applications, from gravity measurements using cold atom interferometers to global time distribution and secure communication.
The quantum revolution in space is ushering in an era of precision measurements, secure communication and innovative space missions.
In the rapidly evolving field of quantum technologies for space, ESA has been at the forefront of pioneering innovations promising a revolution in the way we observe and interact with the cosmos.
Recognising the significance of quantum technologies, ESA marked them as a strategic priority in its 2025 Agenda. To support this, in 2021 the Agency initiated the Quantum Technology Cross Cutting Initiative (QT-CCI).
This initiative aims to identify strategic interests, promote collaboration among ESA member states, industry and academia, and enhance technology readiness, including testing, development, and demonstrating applications.
To efficiently tackle different topics, the QT-CCI has divided quantum technology into nine interest areas, encompassing atomic frequency standards, quantum computing, cryptography, communication, and sensing techniques, among others.
Three groundbreaking activities improving quantum technologies have been completed through a collaboration of ESA’s General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) and RAL Space, in the UK.
These activities are poised to reshape our understanding of space and enhance our technological capabilities for future missions as the quantum revolution takes hold.
The Birth of Quantum Technologies for Space in Britain
Bruno Leone, the Technical Officer in charge of these activities, shared how this journey began: "I moved to ECSAT in the UK in 2012 with a mandate of looking at game-changing technologies and because the UK was really involved in quantum technologies I started looking around for something to do in space with that. RAL Space were really responsive and they said we'd like to do something together with ESA."
The journey into the quantum realm in the UK began in 2014 when the national quantum technology program was launched.
Driven by the desire to fuse quantum technologies with space exploration, Leone sought out a partnership with RAL Space, with the initial vision of creating an ESA Laboratory dedicated to quantum technologies, much like their existing Advanced Materials Laboratory.
This partnership between RAL Space and ESA led to the inception of three activities, each addressing different facets of quantum technologies in space.
These activities have been made possible through funding from the UK Space Agency, under the GSTP, with a total investment of around 750,000 Euros dedicated to these activities alone.
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Current Quantum Endeavors: Unveiling Three Initiatives
Currently, quantum technologies are being developed in three fields: quantum computing, quantum key distribution and quantum sensing, for example with gravity.
The GSTP activities with RAL Space focused on quantum laser technologies first. But developing any quantum technologies for space has the potential to significantly improve terrestrial technology.
“We're considering three areas at ESA. One is quantum sensing, which includes atom interferometry, but also optical frequency standards used for optical clocks and quantum sensing, because it's sensing time in a very precise way.
Then we have optical communications, that's quantum key distribution essentially. And then the last bit is quantum computing, which is a sort of a budding area,” says Leone.
The first activity focused on creating an atom interferometry chamber specifically designed for space, which was directly linked to a previous TDE (Technology Development Element) project, which could be used on Earth Gravity Gradiometer missions or for fundamental physics missions.
One of the essential components of a atom interferometry payload is the vacuum chamber, or Physics package, consisting of at least a 2 Dimensional Magneto Optical Trap (2D MOT) and a 3 Dimensional Magneto Optical Trap (3D MOT).
An atom interferometer allows for the manipulation of atoms in a vacuum, crucial for precision measurements.
The objective was to develop a vacuum chamber that would use laser-cooled rubidium atoms, known for their unique optical resonances. These atoms are critical for atom interferometry and creating a controlled vacuum environment is essential.
The initial plan was to create an entire atom source, producing and cooling the atoms, and launching them into an experiment chamber. Eventually the project was streamlined to focus on developing the 3D magneto-optical trap (3D MOT), the initial stage for cooling and launching atoms.. Such vacuum chambers already exist in laboratories around the world but none were developed specifically to work in the space environment. RAL Space set up a facility that combined both space and quantum engineering expertise to address this challenge.
Leone elaborated on the significance of the project: "What makes this activity unique is its focus on the 'physics package,' which is the heart of the atom interferometry experiment.
This package needs to function seamlessly in the harsh space environment, including the vacuum of space and resistance to radiation. It has never been done before for space missions."
The potential applications of this technology are immense. A future gravity mission could benefit from this breakthrough as it would significantly enhance the precision and longevity of the mission.
By achieving drift-free measurements, this technology would eliminate the need for continuous recalibration in space, ensuring accurate results.
"So in quantum sensing we've been developing a lot of technology, mainly in lasers, because you need a lot of lasers to manipulate atoms,” Leone continues.
“For one of these activities in particular we’re looking at high-stability laser electronics, the electronics driving the lasers, which are unique in the sense that it's the first one at ESA that's been developing electronics specifically for space to drive those lasers and this one is the only one that's really looking at what we call the physics package for the actual physical implementation where the atom interferometry experiment is going to take place.
The second activity centred around the development of a High Stability Laser. Given that lasers play a pivotal role in cooling atoms and enabling various quantum manipulations, stability and precision are of the utmost importance.
The challenge was to create a laser system capable of autonomously finding and locking onto the correct frequency while operating in the harsh conditions of space.
2/3
Developing lasers for quantum technologies—such as a laser-cooled atom interferometry—will make it possible to conduct ever more precise measurements.
In particular, measurements related to the Earth's gravity field and fundamental physics. This heightened accuracy can lead to more exact geophysical measurements, which can benefit fields like geology, seismology and resource exploration.
At the same time, developing these lasers can improve the stability and precision of various measurement tools, contributing to advancements in fields like manufacturing, materials science and telecommunications.
The third activity involved the creation of an alignment system, with a specific focus on Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
QKD technologies will help to develop more secure communications, which in turn can be implemented to improve terrestrial data security.
QKD offers unbreakable encryption, protecting sensitive information for fields such as finance, healthcare and government communications. The technology could help safeguard data against cyber threats and security breaches.
Optical links from satellites are a promising option for sharing quantum encryption keys for the purpose of secure quantum communication.
Demonstrating these links from small satellites is important because of the fast development lifecycle of quantum sources and the potential for networks of quantum key generating satellites.
Optical beams used in QKD require precise pointing, to send the data back to Earth but the pointing required for these optical links is much more precise than current attitude control systems are able to achieve.
An active alignment system, based on steering from a fine steering mirror could be used to enable quantum communication links from small satellites.
The third activity successfully designed and assembled an alignment system using both commercially available, off-the-shelf and custom components.
A closed-loop control algorithm was implemented to reach the precision needed and to quickly recognise and account for disturbances.
Altogether the three activities covered three very different, albeit related, areas of quantum technologies, showcasing the expertise RAL Space can provide to support ESA quantum technologies ambitions.
The Path Forward: A Quantum Strategy for the Future
The UK Space Agency and ESA have been at the forefront of integrating quantum technologies into space missions, but this journey is just beginning for both space agencies.
As the possibilities of quantum technologies in space expand it's clear that collaboration, vision and strategic planning will be key to redefining our understanding of gravity, enhancing secure communication and opening new horizons in space exploration.
While these three activities have yielded remarkable progress in quantum technologies for space, the future remains uncertain.
Leone emphasizes that presently, there is no cohesive plan to harness the UK quantum expertise and know how within the ESA and wider space context opening a space for a quantum technologies strategy between both.
Quantum technology, a burgeoning field, offers vast potential for innovation and advancement. The three activities that were borne out of the collaboration between GSTP and RAL Space are a testament to the potential of quantum technologies in space.
These innovations hold the key to revolutionising our understanding of gravity, precision measurements and secure communication in the cosmos.
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NATO state preparing to strike St. Petersburg – FT
5 Oct, 2026 08:45 | Updated 5 Oct, 2026 11:35
Estonia wants to directly threaten Russia’s second-largest city, which is 140 km from the Baltic state’s border
Estonia is preparing to deploy weapons capable of striking the Russian city of St. Petersburg, the Financial Times has reported.
Amid unprecedented mis- and dis-information from NATO’s European members, Tallinn has presented the proposed buildup as a form of deterrence, should Moscow “test” NATO.
However, Russia’s leadership has repeatedly stressed that it has no intention of attacking the US-led military bloc. Moscow has also warned that any direct conflict with NATO would likely escalate into nuclear war.
The British newspaper reported on Monday that Estonia is deploying additional troops along the Russian border and acquiring tactical missile systems capable of reaching St. Petersburg.
They include US-made HIMARS and South Korean Chunmoo launchers, both of which can fire longer-range projectiles.
Estonia also trained with the UK during this year’s Spring Storm exercise using Nyan kamikaze jet drones, which can likewise reach Russia’s second-largest city from Estonian territory, according to the report.
The Baltic state has a standing army of just 4,200 troops, but plans to reinforce it with tens of thousands of reservists if tensions with Russia escalate.
Last month, Defense Minister Martin Herem said during a public lecture that Tallinn could not afford to keep mobilized troops in the field for long.
“I have jokingly said that if we get to the orange zone there and carry out mobilization, but Russia does not attack, then it would be economically more correct to attack ourselves,” he said.
“Then at least we will know when it will start, and we will not waste food and air in vain”
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the remark with an idiom: “The circus has left, but the clowns remain.” He added that Moscow has no plans to attack Estonia or any other NATO member.
Commenting on the FT report, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova echoed the president, saying it belongs in the funny pages.
Russian diplomats previously cited Herem’s remarks as examples of what they described as aggressive rhetoric by senior officials in NATO countries.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has formally warned the bloc against attacking Russian territory or imposing a blockade on the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, saying the country’s response could involve “all weapons” in its arsenal.
While NATO poses as a purely defensive organization, it has a history of military interventions on foreign soil and does not rule out preemptive attacks.
Last week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said European members of the bloc should have been capable of attacking Iran themselves to eliminate what was described as a nuclear threat from Tehran.
He argued that Europe’s military buildup should eventually allow it to conduct such operations without relying on the US.
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all sharply increased military spending in recent years and are reportedly seeking additional procurement funds from the EU budget.
According to Finnish newspaper Iltalehti, the three Baltic states have asked Brussels to urgently provide €500 million ($570 million) in additional funding, citing the scenario of Russia seeking to “test NATO.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/646729-estonia-missiles-st-petersburg/
moar RT
https://www.rt.com/news/646748-germany-conflict-russia-intelligence/
https://www.rt.com/news/646739-ukraines-eu-neighbors-reject-grain-transit-plea/
https://www.rt.com/news/646716-stubb-russia-blame-game/
https://www.rt.com/news/646725-switzerland-ukraine-scam-call-centers/
Drone strike sinks Turkish cargo ship in Black Sea
Oct. 5, 2026 / 2:16 PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that Russia is responsible for a drone strike that sank a Turkish-owned cargo ship carrying grain from Ukraine in the Black Sea.
Two people, including the ship's captain, were killed in the strike, Romanian authorities said. The strike took place earlier Monday off Romania's coast, near the Pescăruș offshore platform.
Romanian ships and helicopters rescued 11 sailors, some of them injured, and one sailor was missing, authorities said.
Euronews Romania identified the ship as the Royad Mammadov, owned by a Turkish company and flying a St. Kitts and Nevis flag.
Zelensky said in a social media post that two Russian drones hit the ship in a "horrific strike" and that Azerbaijani and Indian citizens were on board.
"Ukraine has repeatedly proposed concrete steps to de-escalate the situation and ensure security in the Black Sea," Zelensky wrote.
"There have also been relevant proposals from third countries. But Russia consistently chooses terror and sinking civilian vessels instead of normal maritime navigation.
"Pressure is needed to restore global food security. And everyone who is genuinely interested in this must help."
Romanian authorities have not said Russia was involved in the attack.
An official from Romania's Free Navigators Union told Euronews Romania that aerial and sea drones attacked the commercial ship "which had nothing to do with the war."
The ship had sailed from the Ukrainian port of Ismail and was navigating toward Ravenna, Italy.
Euronews Romania reported that there have been "a number of" drone incursions toward Romania's ports in the Black Sea, as well as violations of the country's airspace by Russian aerial drones.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/10/05/romania-drone-strike-sinks-cargo-ship/4661791223584/
other Russia and Ukraine
https://www.ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-ato/4171367-russian-drone-strikes-highrise-building-in-zaporizhzhia-causing-casualties-and-apartment-fires.html
https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/articles/ukraine-moldova-border-crossing-point-151400244.html
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/putin-lookalike-meets-ukrainian-fpv-drone-on-the-front-line-23121
https://kyivindependent.com/new-automatic-gun-turrets-successfully-down-first-russian-jet-powered-drones-air-force-says/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-10-05/live-updates-910598
other Israel
https://www.timesofisrael.com/at-oct-7-ceremonies-pm-vows-to-settle-scores-others-urge-accountability-for-massacre/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-palestinian-car-rammed-army-vehicle-in-west-bank-one-occupant-shot-dead/
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-intel-2-3-of-october-7-terrorists-hunted-down-eliminated/
https://www.jns.org/news/israel-news/syria-idf-eliminates-individual-trying-to-infiltrate-military-post
https://www.jfeed.com/latest-news/idf-fires-phosphorus-shells-at-majdal-zoun-in-southern-lebanon-lebanese-channels-53379
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/reports-6-year-old-girl-killed-by-idf-fire-in-gaza/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bl2tb85ym
Live Updates: IDF arrests weapons traffickers in Nablus, kills would-be infiltrator in southern Syria
October 5, 10:33 PM
Zamir announces IDF intelligence overhaul • Middle East crude oil exports exceed pre-war levels • US pulls all bombers from RAF Fairford air base threatened by alleged Iranian plot
October 5, 8:18 PM
As Iran war drives up gasoline prices in US, Trump blames Ukraine, Democrats
US President Donald Trump on Monday tried to shift the blame for high gasoline prices to the Democrats and Ukraine's attacks on Russian refineries.
"What's driving up Gasoline is no longer the Strait of Hormuz, because record numbers of barrels are coming out now on an almost daily basis, but the word, 'refineries,' where Russia's are being blown up by Ukraine, and where ours are being closed up, in blue states, like California, by the Dumocrats," Trump said in a Truth Social post.
Energy prices have spiked since Iran cut off access to the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that normally carries one-fifth of the world's oil supplies. Ukraine's attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure have driven up prices as well, particularly diesel fuel.
October 5, 6:46 PM
UK to expel 27 Israeli diplomats if east Jerusalem consulate closed, British diplomats expelled
UK National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell held talks with Israeli officials but failed to reach an agreement to keep the consulate open, Reuters cited sources as saying.
Senior British officials have made it clear to Israel that if the British Consulate in east Jerusalem is closed and British diplomats are expelled, the UK will respond by expelling 27 Israeli diplomats, along with their families, two sources familiar with the matter told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
The consulate is expected to close on October 8, following an order issued by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
The move reportedly follows Britain's economic sanctions on the West Bank.
In addition, Britain's top national security official quietly visited Israel last week in a bid to prevent the closure of the consulate, three sources told Reuters.
October 5, 6:46 PM
Jerusalem man charged over year-long contact with alleged foreign agent
The indictment alleges that the operative offered the suspect money to photograph Jewish residential neighborhoods and locations used by police and security forces.
The State Attorney’s Office indicted Tarek Oweida, 53, of Jerusalem, on Monday for allegedly maintaining contact for about a year with a foreign agent who sought photographs and information from across the capital.
The indictment, filed in Jerusalem District Court, alleges that the operative offered Oweida money to photograph Jewish residential neighborhoods and locations used by police and security forces. Prosecutors have asked the court to keep him in custody until the conclusion of the proceedings.
The case is narrower than several recent foreign-agent prosecutions: The indictment explicitly states that Oweida did not complete any of the proposed assignments, did not transmit the requested material. He also received no payment.
Oweida was arrested on September 9. Roughly a year earlier, he allegedly sought to join a Telegram group called “The Resistance,” through which he began corresponding with the suspected agent approximately once every two weeks.
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October 5, 6:45 PM
Iran plans to expand missile range to reach ‘enemy located at greater distance’, spokesperson says
The IRGC spokesperson shared that “during this war, we reached the conclusion that we definitely need to increase the range of our missiles, and we have now moved in this direction.”
The Iranian military will work to develop more missiles with a range exceeding 1000 kilometers, to reach “enemies at a greater distance from our forces.” Mohammad Akrami-Nia, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic’s Army, told the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency on Sunday.
Referring to the deployment of US military forces outside the Strait of Hormuz, he shared that “during this war, we reached the conclusion that we definitely need to increase the range of our missiles, and we have now moved in this direction.”
Iranian officials claimed in February that Tehran had deliberately capped the range of its missiles at 2,000 km to avoid being perceived as an international threat. Despite comments by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reports in March said Tehran had attempted to strike Diego Garcia with two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which would have required a range far beyond 2,000 km.
“The missiles that we used during the war, particularly those used by our ground forces to target enemy bases, which were used in Kuwait, and our naval forces also used naval missiles, or sea-launched missiles, sea cruise missiles, against enemy vessels,” he said.
October 5, 6:45 PM
Syria terror suspects unarmed, attempted to gather intelligence on IDF posts in Security Zone
Golan Regional Council Head Uri Kelner and Katzrin Local Council Head Yehuda Dua responded to the incidents in southern Syria, calling them "a warning sign that cannot be ignored."
Syrian terrorists who attempted to infiltrate IDF posts in the Security Zone in separate incidents on Sunday and Monday are suspected of attempting to gather intelligence on the military, Army Radio reported.
According to Army Radio, the terror suspects were unarmed at the time of their respective infiltration attempts and were gauging the alertness and response tactics of IDF soldiers.
On Monday, the military said it shot toward and arrested two suspects who approached an IDF post in southern Syria while riding a motorcycle. No Israeli soldiers were injured.
One of the suspects was shot in the chest and is being treated at a hospital in Safed, with Army Radio noting that he and the second suspect will be taken in for questioning following treatment.
October 5, 6:44 PM
‘Blood of my son on his hands’: Netanyahu’s October 7 speech interrupted by bereaved father
Tom Godo's funeral was held on October 13, 2023, with the IDF informing his family in 2025 that Israeli fire was responsible for his death, KAN reported.
Yaakov Godo, the father of Oct. 7 victim Tom Godo, interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Israeli leader delivered a speech on October 5, 2026. (credit: Section 27A)
Yaakov Godo, the father of October 7 victim Tom Godo, interrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the Israeli leader delivered a speech marking the third anniversary of the massacre at Mount Herzl in Jerusalem on Monday.
"It’s a disgrace that you didn’t protect those murdered on October 7," exclaimed Yaakov Godo. "The blood of my son and of another 1,200 people murdered in a single day is on his (Netanyahu's) hands and on his head."
The prime minister briefly paused his remarks amid the interruption before continuing his speech at the state ceremony to remember the victims and heroes of October 7.
October 5, 4:42 PM
IDF Carmeli Brigade locates, destroys Assad-era weapons in southern Syria
The IDF Carmeli Brigade has been operating in the area to clear it of weapons, the military said.
The IDF Carmeli Brigade found and destroyed several Assad regime-era weapons during operations in southern Syria on Sunday, the military confirmed on Monday.
The weapons included three anti-tank explosive devices and two mines, the IDF announced.
According to the IDF, the Carmeli Brigade has been operating in the area as part of efforts to clear it of weaponry.
Earlier on Monday, the IDF announced that the brigade had shot and killed a suspect attempting to infiltrate an Israeli military post in the southern Syria Security Zone on Sunday.
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Unverified reports claim drone plot targeting Mecca and areas near the Kaaba
2026-10-05 | 20:31
Regional reports circulating Monday claim that a drone operation may be planned against targets in Mecca, including areas near the Kaaba, with some accounts alleging the use of U.S.-made LUCAS drones.
The claims have been attributed to Fars News and other regional sources, which allege that the drones could be launched from territory controlled by Saudi-aligned forces.
Some versions of the report also allege involvement by members of Saudi security services.
However, the claims have not been independently verified, and no publicly available evidence has confirmed that such an operation is being prepared.
There has also been no official confirmation from Saudi authorities, U.S. officials or major international news agencies.
The LUCAS, or Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, is a U.S.-made one-way attack drone, but its alleged role in this reported plot remains unconfirmed.
Given the sensitivity of claims involving Mecca and the Kaaba, the reports should be treated as unverified until supported by credible independent evidence.
https://cedarnews.net/newstasks/1032313/unverified-reports-claim-drone-plot-targeting-mecca-and-areas-near-the-kaaba/
Drone hits Ethiopia IDP camp as fears grow of regional war
October 5, 2026
A drone strike in Ethiopia's Tigray region killed several people in a displacement camp, sources said on Monday, as the government pressed north into rebel territory after almost two weeks of internal conflict that threatens a wider regional war.
Fighting broke out between the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and federal forces on September 23, sparking fears of a return to the devastating civil war of 2020-2022.
Federal forces have pushed back the rebel offensive and this weekend seized the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, after TPLF leaders and troops abandoned the city.
On Sunday, witnesses reported a drone strike on an IDP camp in Sheraro, western Tigray – home to thousands displaced during the last war.
It killed eight civilians, including a child, and seriously wounded at least six others, an aid worker and witness told AFP.
There are fears the fighting could spark a wider war, especially if the TPLF retreats across the border into Eritrea, which the Ethiopian government accuses of supporting the rebels.
"The continued northward advance of Ethiopian troops and drone strikes in northern Tigray suggest that Ethiopian forces are preparing conditions for a conflict with Eritrea," Edward Bach, of risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, said in a briefing note.
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Sea access -
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who parliament appointed to a new term on Monday has repeatedly insisted that landlocked Ethiopia has a right to direct sea access.
Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, fears he plans to invade and seize its port at Assab.
Abiy reiterated the claim on Monday, telling parliament: "The loss of our access to the sea was not voluntary. It was something imposed on us through external pressure".
"Ethiopia's modernisation cannot be fully realised without access to the sea," he continued, although he added that this would only be pursued through "peaceful" means.
Parliament re-appointed Abiy as premier following his party's emphatic victory in June elections.
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Mekelle patrols -
Fighting was continuing in Tigray, with an aid worker and a witness reporting a fatal drone strike on civilians in a camp for displaced people.
Verification is difficult as media are prevented from travelling to affected areas and there are significant communication disruptions.
In the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, banks and petrol stations remained closed, two days after TPLF leaders and troops abandoned the city to federal forces.
Public transport was operating and a few shops were open, while pro-government forces patrolled the streets.
A major difference from the last civil war is that the government has been able to mobilise Tigrayans who oppose the TPLF's control of the state.
A militia called the Tigray Peace Force has been a leading ally for the government as it pushes into rebel territory.
The leaders of Ethiopia's regional rivals Eritrea, Egypt, Somalia and Sudan met in the Egyptian city of El-Alamein on Sunday to discuss the conflict.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/drone-hits-ethiopia-idp-camp-as-fears-grow-of-regional-war/news-story/3bcd765b184471a2a96f1f47da06e193
FAA Funds Drone Research to Support Safe Integration
October 5, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced it awarded $12 million to 19 companies for drone research and testing projects that will help safely expand drone operations in the National Airspace System.
These awards were made through the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Program. The program funds companies working with FAA-designated UAS Test Sites to test and evaluate technologies that support safe drone integration.
The awards advance the Unleashing American Drone Dominance Executive Order by supporting the full use of FAA UAS Test Sites to develop, test, and scale American drone technologies.
“The UAS Broad Agency Announcement Program gives us another way to directly work with industry and our test site partners on technologies that are critical to safe drone integration,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
“The research supported through this program will give us better data, help us identify and understand operational challenges, and inform how we safely integrate these aircraft into the National Airspace System.”
Companies and projects under the program include:
General Atomics — ground systems to help drones avoid other aircraft
NAVMAR — systems to help large drones fly safely
SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — a test of drone visibility technology
ANRA Technologies — tools to connect air taxi operations, vertiports, and flight procedures
Devorto Corporation — long-range cargo drone service
ANRA Technologies — tools to give drones a common altitude reference
DroneUp LLC — a secure way to verify drone identity and approval to fly
SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — a sensor system for drone traffic management and counter-drone operations
SPS Aerial Remote Sensing — tools to measure sensor performance
OneRadio Corporation — testing passive radar to help drones avoid other aircraft
Censys Technologies Corp — testing satellite communications for long-range drone flights
Frequentis USA — a drone technology demonstration
ANRA Technologies — tools to connect drone traffic systems with traditional air traffic systems at airports
ANRA Technologies — AI tools to identify different types of drones
Skydweller — onboard systems to help large drones avoid other aircraft
Aerial Vantage — tools to manage reserved airspace for drones in cities
Lighthouse Avionics Inc. — surveillance tools for long-range drone routes
ResilienX, Inc. — software to coordinate drone missions and resources
Oklahoma State University — drone visibility technology under the Aero Aware project
There are currently nine FAA-designated UAS Test Sites:
Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration, Alaska
Northern Plains UAS Test Site, North Dakota
New Mexico State University UAS Test Site, New Mexico
State of Nevada UAS Test Site, Nevada
New York UAS Test Site, New York
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Autonomy Research Institute, Texas
Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership, Virginia
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Oklahoma
Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana
https://www.suasnews.com/2026/10/faa-funds-drone-research-to-support-safe-integration/
moar FAA
https://dronexl.co/2026/10/05/faa-nfl-no-drone-zone-700-world-cup-seizures/
Watch: Triangular UFO Formation Filmed in England
October 05, 2026
A remarkable video from England shows a triangular set of lights moving silently through the night sky. The intriguing footage, which came to light over the weekend, was reportedly filmed on August 23rd in the city of Wolverhampton.
After their mother first spotted the puzzling formation "while letting the dog outside," the witness told the the Mutual UFO Network, "I came outside shortly afterwards and also observed the lights directly with my own eyes."
They noted that the three illuminations made no noise as they "moved slowly and smoothly across the western sky" heading "approximately north to south."
"What particularly caught our attention," they recalled, "was that the three lights appeared to maintain their positions relative to one another as they moved."
While this gave the impression that the illuminations were connected in some fashion, perhaps as the points of a triangular craft, the witness conceded that they "couldn't see any visible structure" that might confirm that notion.
Wrapping up their report, they indicated that the UFO simply floated across the sky "retaining the triangular arrangement" without "any sudden acceleration or unusual maneuvers."
As for what the confounding set of lights could have been, some have understandably suggested that the witness observed a triangular UFO belonging to otherworldly visitor.
Others have posited that the illuminations may have been some kind of secret terrestrial vehicle akin to the apocryphal American craft known as the TR-3B.
Meanwhile, more skeptical observers argued that the UFO over Wolverhampton was either a set of drones or perhaps lanterns that looked connected due to the perspective of the witnesses.
https://www.coasttocoastam.com/article/watch-triangular-ufo-formation-filmed-in-england/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhw4pLZEy3U
Expert warns against military strikes on UFOs
5 October 2026
A university professor has warned governments not to open fire on UFOs because they risk triggering an interstellar war.
Professor Michael Bohlander of Durham University in the UK agues that taking military action against a UAP stands (unidentified anomalous phenomena) could have disastrous consequences for mankind and any strikes on such a target need to considered very carefully.
In a blog post for the Global Policy Journal, Bohlander writes: "While UAP so far seem to have been restrained in their reaction to human aggressive behaviour, there is no guarantee that this will continue to be the case, for example, if the attack was not against a small, unmanned probe, but against one of the larger observed craft that may well be carrying crew.
"Some of them may carry weapon systems equally advanced as their overall technology. We should not test them without good reason and a colourable case that we would prevail."
In the post Bohlander also references a video shown during a congressional hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena in the US last year which showed American drones attacking a UAP by firing a Hellfire missile at it.
The missile had a "negligible" effect on the target and Bohlander warned human weapons are unlikely to be able to take on extraterrestrial technology in a combat situation.
He wrote: "The object was travelling over non-US territory, displaying no threat or hostility, and still the US fired a Hellfire missile at it.
"The effect of the strike was negligible. The object continued on its course with a few minor pieces of debris continuing to fly along on the same trajectory, making it even more probable that it was highly advanced technology."
Bohlander went on to argue that military action should not be taken against UAPs unless they clearly show "hostile intent".
He concluded: "Incidents of aggressive behaviour initiated by UAP are very rare.
A clear verdict of a military nature or threat will thus be very difficult to reach in virtually all cases, an argument in favour of classifying UAP by default as non-aggressive and falling under the same protection as human civilian objects.
"They should not be attacked, unless they show hostile intent."
video shown to US Congress where a drone launched a Hellfire missile at a UAP with almost no effect.
https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/bizarre/expert-warns-military-strikes-ufos-1451651.html