🚀🤖 SpaceX, xAI to compete in Pentagon drone AI contest — reports

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and xAI are among a small group of companies selected to compete in a $100 million Pentagon challenge to develop voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

💬 The six-month contest, launched in January, aims to create software that can translate voice commands into digital instructions coordinating multiple drones across air and sea. Later phases would include live testing and systems involving “target-related awareness and sharing” and “launch to termination,” according to the report.

❗️ Musk has previously supported a ban on offensive autonomous weapons, though his companies are now expected to work on the full scope of the project, the report said.

⚠️ Security officials cited by Bloomberg warned generative AI would likely need limits, emphasizing concerns about allowing such systems to operate without a human in the loop.

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🇷🇺🇺🇸 New round of Ukraine talks to kick off in Geneva

The Russian delegation will be led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner attending Tuesday's session.

The parties will discuss the territorial issue, Kremlin revealed earlier.

The negotiations, which are expected to extend through Wednesday, will be held behind closed doors, and media representatives will not be allowed.

👉 The second round of talks on Ukraine, involving delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine, took place in Abu Dhabi on February 4 and 5.

👉 The first round took place on January 23-24 in Abu Dhabi. The talks were also held behind closed doors, without the press.

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🇵🇸🇮🇱 Palestine accuses Israel of obstructing work of Gaza committee under Trump's plan

Israel is obstructing the work of the Palestinian national committee established to administer the Gaza Strip in accordance with Trump's plan, Palestinian Deputy Foreign Minister Omar Awadallah told Sputnik.

"Israel is preventing the members of the national committee for governing Gaza from entering the Strip," he said.

The diplomat said that the very "existence of a committee designed to ensure stability, the return of the Palestinian government to its duties, and the cessation of all crimes against the Palestinian people does not serve the interests of the current Israeli government."

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🚨🇷🇺 Plane carrying Russian delegation arrives in Geneva for trilateral talks

A special flight with a Russian delegation has arrived in Geneva on the day of the start of negotiations between Russia, the United States and Ukraine, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

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🇷🇺🪖 Russian tank crews hit Ukraine's positions in Kharkov region

They burned down everything and created perfect conditions for the infantry's advance

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⚔️ NATO creating group in Baltic for offensive operations against Russia – Patrushev

NATO plans include a blockade of Russia's Kaliningrad Region and the seizure of Russian merchant ships, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Russian Marine Board Nikolai Patrushev told Russian media.

NATO's plans include sabotage of underwater communications in the Baltic, for which the alliance will then cynically blame Russia, he added.

Other statements:

◻️ Finland is receiving corvettes with strike weapons capable of reaching Russia's northwestern regions

◻️ If European countries fail to lift the potential naval blockade of Russia peacefully, the Russian Navy will break through and eliminate it

◻️ The concept of a "shadow fleet" used by the European Union in relation to Russia is a legal fiction, there are many ships sailing under European flags, and Russia might also be interested in what they are carrying

◻️ There is evidence that the West will increasingly attack Russian merchant ships

◻️ The Russian navy is the best guarantor of safety of Russian merchant vessels amid Western attacks

◻️ BRICS naval exercises "Will for Peace 2026" with the participation of Russia, China, Iran, the UAE, and South Africa in January were held successfully

◻️ Developments in Venezuela and around Iran indicate the return of gunboat diplomacy, but Western hegemony at sea is largely a thing of the past

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🔶 New round of Ukraine talks to kick off in Geneva

🔶 ‘Ukraine better come to the table fast’ — Trump on Geneva talks

🔶 Trump on US-Iran talks: ‘I’ll be involved in those talks indirectly’

🔶 Trump declares 'humanitarian threat' in Cuba amid US blockade

🔶 Hezbollah Secretary-General: Lebanon upheld agreement, Israel 'did not'

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⚔EU hawks seek to press pause on Ukraine, remilitarize for ‘bigger war with Russia’ - ex-UK diplomat

One of the consequences of the West’s proxy conflict in Ukraine has been Europe’s economic decline because of the short-sighted decision to abandon Russia’s cheap energy, says former British diplomat Ian Proud.

The second risk, he notes, is that Europe is pushing for “a very antagonistic Ukraine joining the European Union that wants to maintain an essentially hostile posture towards Russia.”

👉What EU warmongers would be doing is essentially “pressing pause on the much bigger war with Russia as Europe remilitarizes,” says the pundit.

Without addressing how to “reset” relations with Russia, “we may simply be storing up problems for ourselves in terms of Europe, you know, pressing for a much sort of more damaging war with Russia in the long term.”

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🇺🇸🇨🇭🇷🇺US Army Secretary Driscoll and Gen. Grynkewich in Geneva for trilateral Ukraine talks

Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Alex Grynkewich, as part of the team led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have arrived in Geneva, CNN reporter Haley Britzky has posted on X, citing sources.

“We remain optimistic and look forward to the conflict’s resolution,” she cited a US government official as saying ahead of the trilateral negotiations involving delegations from Russia, the United States, and Ukraine.

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🚨 Ukraine talks in Geneva to be held behind closed doors - Kremlin

Negotiators in Geneva will continue their work tomorrow, and no news should be expected following Tuesday’s contacts, Kremlin Spox Dmitry Peskov said.

The negotiations are expected to begin within the next couple of hours, he added.

Other statements:

🟠 Russia sees certain energy blackmail by Ukraine against Hungary

🟠 Russia is in contact with buyers of its oil, but situation is complicated by Ukraine's position

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🇵🇰🔥 Compact but technologically advanced: an overview of the Pakistan Navy

Pakistan is not building a Blue Ocean navy. The primary missions of its Navy are to guard its own coastline and ensure safe navigation in the Arabian Sea. To achieve this, Islamabad focuses on maneuverability and modern technology. In total, the Pakistan Navy operates 109 vessels, encompassing its surface combatants, submarines, patrol craft, and support ships.

🔍 Main Types of Pakistani Warships:

Frigates and Corvettes (The Backbone of the Fleet):

◻️ Four 054A/P Frigates (Tughril-class): The newest and most powerful multi-purpose frigates, of Chinese origin.

◻️ Four F-22P Frigates (Zulfiquar-class): China-Pakistan built frigates. They are the main workhorses of the fleet.

◻️ Older Frigates: Six British ships of the Type 21 frigate, as well as a single Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate (USA).

Missile Boats:

◾️ Two Onuk MRTP 33 (Kaan-33) Missile Boats: High-speed boats of Turkish design, considered one of the most advanced projects of this ship type.

◾️ Three Jalalat-class Missile Boats: Domestically produced missile boats, built to a Chinese design.

◾️ Two Jurrat-class Missile Boats: An upgraded version of the Jalalat-class boats.

Submarine Fleet (The Main Striking Force of the Pakistani Navy):

◻️ Hashmat-class Submarines (Agosta 90B): Three diesel-electric submarines of French construction. Two of them are equipped with an MESMA air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, which significantly increases their stealth.

◻️ Khalid-class Submarines (Agosta 70): Two older, modernized French submarines.

◻️ Future Project: Hangor-class Submarine (Type 039B/041 Yuan): Pakistan has ordered eight Chinese-built Yuan-class submarines. Some of the submarines will be built in Chinese shipyards, while subsequent ones are planned to be produced in Pakistan.

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

🟠 Russian air and missile firepower obliterated energy infrastructure supporting the Kiev regime’s forces and temporary deployment points for Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries

🟠 Air defense superiority: eight guided aerial bombs and 334 UAVs were shot down by Russian air defense systems over the past 24 hours

🟠 Ukrainian losses: around 1,230 troops killed or wounded

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

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💥🪖🇨🇳 ‘Always ready!’ Chinese New Year greetings, military style

Showcasing the might and mobility of the Chinese armed forces, this video conveys a simple message: no enemy will catch China unprepared!

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🇷🇺🪖 Russian tank crews hit Ukraine's positions in Kharkov region

They burned down everything and created perfect conditions for the infantry's advance.

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🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran signals deterrence as US naval power enters the spotlight

Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei warns the US that sending aircraft carriers is a show of force — but sinking them would be a show of capability.

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🚨 Negotiations between Russia, United States, Ukraine kick off in Geneva

Trilateral talks between Russia, the United States and Ukraine began at the InterContinental Hotel in Geneva, a source told Sputnik.

The trilateral meetings will be held on February 17-18.

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🔍 Criminal gangs & Monaco battalion kids: What's known about Ukraine’s dirty-dealing ex-energy minister?

Ukraine’s former Energy Minister German Galushchenko has been officially charged with corruption, reports the FT, citing a source involved in the investigation.

The country's anti-corruption watchdog NABU earlier revealed that a former energy minister (in office 2021–2025) had been detained trying to leave the country, and was suspected of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. While NABU didn't name the former minister, Galushchenko was the only one to occupy this post from 2021 until July 2025.

Key revelations about his dirty business:

🔶 The suspect was listed among the “investors” in a fictitious fund registered in February 2021 on the island of Anguilla (a self-governing British Overseas Territory) at the initiative of members of a criminal group uncovered by NABU in November 2025

🔶 It was headed by a long-time associate of the alleged criminal group — a citizen of Seychelles and Saint Kitts and Nevis — who professionally provided services for laundering criminal proceeds

🔶 The fund was intended to attract $100M in “investments”

🔶 During the energy minister’s time in office, the criminal group received over $112M in cash from illegal activities in the energy sector. Some funds were laundered via cryptocurrency

New recruits in Monaco Battalion:

Galushchenko was among the ranks of Ukraine’s elites who hid their children from mobilization in Europe. While ordinary Ukrainians die on the battlefield, their children enjoy a life of luxury abroad.

🔶 Galushchenko’s ex-wife and four children were registered as beneficiaries of the fund. These companies became “investors” in the fund by purchasing its shares

🔶 Over $7.4M was transferred to the fund accounts managed by the suspect's family

🔶 Over 1.3M Swiss francs and €2.4M were issued in cash and transferred directly to his family that lives in Switzerland

🔶 Part of the money was used to pay for the Galushchenko's children’s education at prestigious Swiss institutions and deposited into the ex-wife’s accounts

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🚨 Ukraine talks in Geneva: What’s known so far

🟠 The negotiations will last two days. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that no news should be expected following Tuesday’s meetings. The consultations are closed to the press.

🟠 The Russian delegation is headed by Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky and also includes Mikhail Galuzin, Igor Kostyukov, and other officials

Medinsky led the Russian delegation in the previous rounds of negotiations and he is deeply familiar with all these questions — which is why he is leading the Russian delegation this time too.

🟠 Key issues will be discussed at the talks, including territorial questions, the Kremlin said

🟠 The agenda includes security and humanitarian issues, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said

🟠 A British delegation was spotted near the venue. It could attempt to obtain information about the outcome of the negotiations, a source told Sputnik

🟠 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s national security adviser, who is leading the British delegation, has already held meetings in Geneva with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll

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🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran & US hold constructive talks and exchange ideas on nuclear issue - Araghchi

💬 "I can say that at this round, compared to the last one, we brought up absolutely serious issues for discussion, the atmosphere was more productive. Various ideas were put up for discussion, and we had serious discussions on these ideas, and finally we found a strategic route that we will follow, along which we will move and reach a text of a possible agreement," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said following talks with the United States in Geneva.

Key takeaways from the negotiations:

🟠 Iran notes progress in dialogue with the United States compared to previous negotiations

🟠 Iran and the US worked out basic principles at talks in Geneva, according to which they will work on deal for the Iranian nuclear dossier

🟠 Development of principles for further talks by Iran and the US does not necessarily mean that parties will be able to reach a deal

🟠 Both countries will work on the text of a possible agreement, then determine the date for the next round of talks

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🔊 West’s claims of non-involvement in Ukraine conflict ‘epitome of hypocrisy’ - expert

NATO personnel operating Western military hardware in the Ukrainian conflict zone has long been an open secret, Russian military analyst Viktor Litovkin tells Sputnik.

Ukraine, Litovkin explains, ended up relying on foreign personnel because it:

🟠 Lacks the necessary number of skilled pilots and specialists to operate sophisticated weapon systems like F-16 jets or HIMARS rockets

🟠 Has a severe shortage of engineers who know English well enough to interpret tech manuals and maintenance charts for NATO military gear

How does this personnel pipeline work?

Western military specialists operating in Ukraine are not officially regarded as members of their respective home countries’ armed forces, masquerading instead as volunteers who chose on their own to “defend democracy.”

💬 “It’s a tried and tested scenario: a career military man goes on a fake leave and heads off to a warzone, to be reinstated upon his return home,” says Litovkin.

Western powers’ claims of alleged non-involvement in the Ukrainian conflict are the epitome of hypocrisy, he notes.

Second-hand war gear

NATO countries deliberately provide Ukraine with second-rate, older war gear due to concerns that any advanced military hardware supplied to the Ukrainian forces would be inevitably captured by Russian forces, Litovkin points out.

As a result, Western personnel end up operating outdated military hardware while facing much more advanced Russian combat aircraft and weapon systems that make short work of them.

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