📉 US sanctions chief set to leave amid Treasury tensions — reports

John Hurley, Treasury’s top sanctions official and Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, is set to leave his post after reported friction with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Bloomberg reported.

Hurley’s departure follows months of internal tension over the tactics and targets of US sanctions policy, and officials have discussed potential ambassadorial roles for him, according to Bloomberg.

💲 The reported exit comes amid broader turnover in senior Treasury positions, as US sanctions on countries including Venezuela, Iran and Russia remain central to Washington’s foreign policy and global energy markets, the report said.

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🚫 UK may ban under-16s from social media this year — reports

The UK government is pushing ahead with plans that could see children banned from social media as soon as this year, The Times reported, as PM Keir Starmer moves to tighten online regulation.

📄 According to the report, measures under consideration include:
🔸 A ban on under-16s using social media
🔸 Phone curfews for young people
🔸 Restrictions on “addictive” features like infinite scrolling
🔸 Limiting children’s access to chatbots and blocking VPNs used to bypass age restrictions

The government is using so-called “Henry VIII powers” — provisions that allow ministers to change the law without full parliamentary scrutiny — to fast-track changes once a consultation concludes this summer.

🤡 Starmer framed the move as protecting children, saying Britain will be “a leader not a follower when it comes to online safety.”

❓ How far will the UK go in policing digital life?

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🇷🇺🔊 Russian drones bypass NATO electronic warfare systems in special operation zone - soldier

Operators of unmanned aerial systems of the Sever battlegroup, when conducting reconnaissance deep behind Ukrainian lines, have learned to bypass NATO electronic warfare systems, a reconnaissance company commander with the call sign Strela (lit. "Arrow") told Sputnik.

💬 "I would like to point out that the enemy is not only using electronic warfare systems produced in Ukraine, but often uses those in service with the NATO alliance. But this doesn't hinder us. We are fulfilling our assigned tasks and conducting aerial reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustments in our assigned areas," the soldier explained.

He added that the Ukrainian forces were constantly seeking new ways to counter Russian drones.

💬 "But in this case, our rather wide range of unmanned aerial vehicles helps us. Currently, the ZALA Z-16 is the most used system. It's currently quite adept at overcoming enemy electronic warfare, penetrating all kinds of 'domes' and 'curtains,' flying deep into the rear, and conducting reconnaissance," Strela explained.

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🇷🇺✈️ Russia develops piston engine for light aviation - Rostec

Key features of the M105 power unit:

🔸 115 horsepower

🔸 Compact dimensions (1211 cm³ and 75 kg)

Modified version, M105V, is intended for small helicopters and autogyros, can be used to drive electric generators, power push- or pull-type propellers, and transmit thrust in aircraft systems.

👉New engine to replace imported counterparts on the Russian market

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🇬🇧❌ UK arms factory’s setback delays shells for Ukraine

A new munitions factory at Glascoed in southern Wales remains unopened over six months after its original launch date slated for last summer, The Guardian reports.

This means the UK’s key munitions boost in the form of 155 mm artillery rounds for Ukraine is stuck indefinitely.

When asked for clarification, BAE Systems — Europe’s largest arms maker, which owns the factory — attributed the delay to a decision made during construction in 2025 to increase the plant’s production capacity by double.

👉 The delay will most likely hamper the UK’s plans to send another batch of weapons worth $736 million to the Zelensky regime despite Russia’s repeated warnings that the West pumping Ukraine with armaments won’t change the situation at the battlefield. Western military aid has failed to keep the Russian Army from advancing on all front lines.

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🔶 Trump to host Board of Peace meeting on Feb. 19

🔶 Russian drones bypass NATO electronic warfare systems in special operation zone

🔶 DOJ releases 'all' Epstein files, names 300+ public figures

🔶 US boards Veronica III under Venezuela 'quarantine'

🔶 Kim Jong-un inaugurates Saeppyol Street for families of fallen heroes

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🇨🇳⭐️ China's servicemen wish Happy New Year from aboard aircraft carrier Fujian

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🚨 Talks on Ukraine, Iran to be held in Geneva on February 17 - source

"The negotiations on Ukraine and Iran will take place at the same time on Tuesday [February 17]. The negotiations on Iran are being held with Oman acting as mediator," a diplomatic source told Sputnik.

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🚨Ukraine talks in Geneva to include main issues, including those related to territories - Kremlin

Key statements by Kremlin Spox Dmitry Peskov on the forthcoming Ukraine talks:

◻️ Russian delegation to be expanded, with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, GRU head Igor Kostyukov and others joining Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky

◻️ Meetings will be held in Geneva within framework of working group on economic issues, which includes Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. He's working on separate track on economic issues

Russian delegation received detailed instructions from President Putin on eve of departure for talks

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

⚡️ POKROVKA IN THE SUMY REGION AND MINKOVKA IN THE DONETSK REGION FREED

By liberating the settlement of Pokrovka in the Sumy region, Russian forces have expanded the buffer zone along the border with the Belgorod region.

The capture of the settlement of Minkovka in the Donetsk region facilitates the Russian army's further advance towards the city of Slavyansk - the center of the largest Kiev-controlled agglomeration in the Donbass.

🟠 Russian air and missile firepower obliterated energy and transport infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces

🟠 Air defense superiority: eight HIMARS rockets and 345 UAVs were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the past 24 hours

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,100 troops killed or wounded

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

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🇺🇸 Rubio on Ukraine: ‘We are not seeking to impose a deal on anybody’

💬 "The United States [is] interested to see the war end, and we want to do what we can to make it and we are the only nation on earth that apparently can get both sides to the table to talk. We are not seeking to impose a deal on anybody. We are not trying to force anyone to take a deal they do not want to take. We just want to help them, because we think it is a war that is incredibly damaging,” Rubio told a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

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