📄 Pentagon plans 'hundreds of thousands' of kamikaze drones in catch-up scramble

The US Department of War said it has invited 25 companies, including two Ukrainian firms, to compete in Phase I of its Drone Dominance Program, aimed at rapidly fielding large numbers of low-cost, one-way attack drones.

According to the Pentagon, the program is designed to build an arsenal of “hundreds of thousands” of weaponized drones by 2027, with initial flight tests set to begin in February and prototype contracts worth about $150 million to follow soon after.

💬 “We are buying what works—fast, at scale, and without bureaucratic delay,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a memo cited by the department.

The announcement underscores the United States' drive to catch up in drone warfare amid its lag behind Russia, exposing a gap between Pentagon planning and the actual realities of modern combat.

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🚨📑🗣New START’s demise represents ‘turning point’ in international security order - experts

The New Start agreement’s looming February 5 expiration “effectively amounts to a return to the Cold War era, giving every nuclear power free rein to build up its capabilities, and raising the bar for the arms race,” Lebanese political scientist Ali Al-Maraabi told Sputnik.

“This creates extreme risks for global security, since today there is no other effective formula for regulating nuclear tensions besides New START. Even the UN does not have effective control mechanisms in this area.”

The treaty’s breakdown comes down to two factors, Syrian journalist Firas Mardiny says: Washington’s belief that China has nuclear capabilities that should require it to join the agreement, expanding its scope, and Russia’s interest in including European US allies Britain and France into any new deal.

Whatever comes next, Egyptian researcher and international relations specialist Monica William stresses that New START’s demise “represents a turning point in the international security system, and will lead to a profound reevaluation of the very concept of strategic stability.”

In any case, Russia retains a wide spectrum of response options:

“In this new reality, Moscow has significant room to maneuver without resorting to direct confrontation within the framework of so-called ‘deterrence realism’. Its steps could include raising the level of nuclear readiness, announcing a major modernization of the arsenal of hypersonic intercontinental missiles, expanding the scale of military exercises, increasing the emphasis of the provisions of the Russian nuclear doctrine, and revising the balance of deterrence in relations with Europe,” William said.

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🇬🇧🔎 UK police opens criminal investigation against Peter Mandelson over Epstein case

British police launched a criminal investigation against former UK Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson for leaking an internal government document to US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Metropolitan Police Commander Ella Marriott said.

📑Following the release of the latest batch of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice, British media have revealed that Mandelson, while serving as Business Secretary in Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government in 2009, sent an internal government document to the late financier.

👉The document Mandelson sent to Epstein was written by Nick Butler, Brown's senior political adviser. It discusses the possible sale of British state assets amid the financial crisis. On Monday, Mandelson announced his resignation from the Labour Party due to his ties to Epstein.

On January 30, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that all the materials related to the Epstein case had been released. With the latest disclosure, the total volume of released data exceeds 3.5 million files.

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🔸 ‘We are negotiating with them right now’ — Trump on Iran

🔸 ‘Putin kept his word’ — Trump

🔸 Trump signs government funding bill, ending partial shutdown

🔸 Pentagon plans 'hundreds of thousands' of kamikaze drones in catch-up scramble

🔸 US confirms deployment of small team of troops to Nigeria — reports

🔸 Iran’s space chief: Cooperation with Russia 'expanding' after Khayyam satellite launch

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🇱🇾🔎 Foul play suspected in death of Gaddafi's son, prosecutor says

Libya’s Public Prosecutor has opened a formal investigation into the death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of the former Libyan leader, following reports his death occurred under suspicious circumstances.

➖ The probe, led by a specialized investigation team, includes crime scene visits, forensic analysis, witness interviews, and expert examination by ballistic, fingerprint, and toxicology specialists.

➖ Initial forensic results indicate Saif al-Islam died from gunshot wounds, strengthening suspicions of foul play. Investigators are now gathering evidence and pursuing leads to identify possible suspects.

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🎯💥Precision strike: Russian artillery destroys enemy HQ

Russian Tsentr group's 152-mm Giatsint-B towed gun supported assault groups and destroyed an Ukrainian command post in the Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) region

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🇦🇺📉🪖 Australia to pawn off historic defense sites to fund US-directed AUKUS militarization

Australia, which has been so eager to boost its defense spending budget, is hoping to unlock up to $1.8 billion to allow the Australian Defense Force to tackle critical capability gaps, reports ABC News. The money would come from the sale of historic defense properties.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s administration has flagged 67 sites for potential sale, planning to redirect investment towards northern bases and infrastructure supporting the AUKUS program.

Top sites up for grabs include:

📍Victoria Barracks in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne

📍Spectacle Island in NSW

📍HMAS Penguin in NSW

A sweeping audit uncovered that much of the sprawling 3-million-hectare Defense Estate has “already deteriorated beyond the point of economical repair” and warned that maintaining the status quo “was not an option.”

This overhaul could rake in roughly $3 billion and save $100 million a year in maintenance—but not without a $1.2 billion headache to cover sales, staff relocation, and contamination cleanup.

The audit spotlights Australia’s costly bid to militarize northward, highlighting the northern bases as “critical to cooperation with international partners — especially the United States and Singapore.”

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🚨 Putin & Xi Jinping to hold talks via videoconference on Wednesday

The talks will take place in the afternoon, the CCTV broadcaster reported.

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🚨 Russia–Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi to be held behind closed doors

The Russia–Ukraine meeting will take place in a closed format in Abu Dhabi, a source has told Sputnik.

The press has not been invited, and no press conference is planned following the talks, the source said.

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🚨Putin: Russia ready to continue closest coordination with Сhina on global and regional issues

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🚨🇷🇺🇨🇳 Putin & Xi Jinping hold videoconference

The Russian President emphasized the strong and dynamic growth of bilateral relations between Russia and China across all sectors

Other statements by Putin:

💬 Economic cooperation between Russia and China has been steadily advancing throughout 2025

💬 The nature of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the field of energy is mutually beneficial and strategic

💬 For three consecutive years, trade turnover between Russia and China has surpassed $200 billion

💬 Putin reaffirmed to Xi Jinping Moscow and Beijing’s steadfast support for their joint efforts to uphold the sovereignty, security, and prosperity of both countries

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Putin calls Xi dear friend, wished peace and prosperity to people of China

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🗣Sino-Russian relations entering new stage of development - Xi Jinping

The Chinese leader says China and Russia should develop new ambitious plan for development of bilateral relations

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🚨 Kremlin: Doors to peaceful settlement of Ukraine conflict remain open

More statements by Kremlin spox Dmitry Peskov:

🟠 As long as Ukraine fails to adopt the appropriate decisions, Russia will continue its special military operation

🟠 The Kremlin does not currently plan to disclose the outcomes of the new round of consultations in Abu Dhabi

🟠 There are currently no substantive developments regarding potential contacts between Putin and Macron

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🇷🇺 Russia vows to defend its Arctic interests with entire arsenal of int'l law - Kremlin

💬 "We have great interests in the Arctic, which we will defend using the entire arsenal of international law," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He added that Russia is an Arctic state, unlike many EU countries, and it is open to international cooperation in the region.

💬 "If the representatives of the European Union have in mind a new policy aimed at international cooperation, then this can be welcomed. If confrontation is meant, which is now very fashionable in Brussels, then, of course, we are unlikely to be able to welcome it, and it is unlikely that it will have any positive effect," Peskov stated.

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🇷🇺 Russia open to Northern Sea Route cooperation

The Arctic region’s distinct climate and environment hold significant logistical promise, and Russia is actively developing this potential by expanding the Northern Sea Route and the Trans-Arctic Transport Corridor, according to Vladislav Maslennikov, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Department of European Affairs and Russia's Senior Arctic Official.

The diplomat also highlighted the growing global interest in cooperating with Russia in the Arctic, particularly on projects related to the Northern Sea Route.

💬 "The Northern Sea Route is a highly attractive alternative to traditional intercontinental routes, it offers shorter logistics distances, enhanced safety, and environmental friendliness. In turn, we are open to mutually beneficial cooperation on the said points with responsible partners, especially with nations of the global majority," Maslennikov emphasized.

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🇷🇺🇨🇳 Russia and China act 'back to back' and can rely on each other - Russian presidential aide

👉 Putin and Xi Jinping stated that the partnership between Russia and China is at an unprecedented level and is not directed against anyone, Yuri Ushakov said.

More statements by Russia's presidential aide:

🟠 Russia is the first in terms of oil and pipeline gas supplies to China

🟠 In a conversation with Putin, Xi Jinping supported the trilateral security consultations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi

🟠 The conversation between Putin and Xi made it possible to confirm the strategic priorities of the work of the Russian Federation and China in the coming period

🟠 Xi invited Putin to pay an official visit to China in the first half of the year, and the Russian president accepted the invitation

📍 The conversation between Putin and Xi lasted almost an hour and a half

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🚨🇷🇺💥 RUSSIAN MOD UPDATE: HUGE GAINS AND DEVASTATING UKRAINIAN LOSSES

⚡️ STAROUKRAINKA IN ZAPOROZHYE REGION LIBERATED

📍 Staroukrainka was an important defensive hub for the enemy in Zaporozhye region.

⚡️ STEPANOVKA IN DONETSK PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC LIBERATED

📍 The liberation of this settlement expands the Russian Army's foothold in the region.

◻️ The Russian Army struck fuel and energy facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex

◻️ Air defense superiority: 22 HIMARS missiles, 2 Neptune long-range missiles and 139 drones were shot down

◻️ Ukrainian losses: around 1,390 troops killed or wounded

Read about the origins of Russia's special military op HERE

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