"The Alpha unit of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) destroyed half of Russia's stockpile ofthe coveted Pantsir air defense system, the SBU announced Feb. 14.
"The 'Pantsir' is one of Russia's modern and key air defense systems. The cost of a single system ranges from $15 to $20 million. These anti-aircraft missile systems are the most effective in countering Ukrainian long-range drones," the announcement read.
The "systemic destruction" of the air defense system has the "strategic goal" of making Russia vulnerable to long-range strikes as Moscow continues to wage its war, the SBU said.
A diminished arsenal allows the Armed Forces to effectively strike Russian "military bases, warehouses, airfields, and other occupied facilities." KI
“Catastrophic” is how one resident describes the devastation left in Madagascar in the wake of Cyclone Gezani.
The cyclone is blamed for at least 36 deaths after making landfall with sustained winds reaching an estimated 125 mph — the equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane." yahoo
"U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told European leaders on Feb. 14 that Washington is not walking away from the transatlantic alliance—but called for a renewed partnership that aligns with President Donald Trump’s push for national revival, tougher border control, and a return to industrial and military strength.Addressing the annual Munich Security Conference, Rubio sought to reassure governments unsettled by a year of tensions over trade, defense spending, and at times critical U.S. rhetoric toward NATO.
At the same time, he made clear that Washington’s commitment would be tied to what he called a broader civilizational renewal—one that calls on Europe to strengthen its own defenses and reassess policies on migration, climate, and economic globalization.
“Under President Trump, the United States of America will once again take on the task of renewal and restoration, driven by a vision of a future as proud, as sovereign, and as vital as our civilization’s past,” Rubio said.
“And while we are prepared, if necessary, to do this alone, it is our preference, and it is our hope to do this together with you, our friends here in Europe, for the United States and Europe—we belong together.”
Serving as both a warning and an invitation, Rubio’s remarks acknowledged “mistakes” made by both the United States and Europe in the decades following the Cold War, while highlighting a shared responsibility to correct course." ZH
"A strong magnitude 5.3 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea 122 km (76 mi) from Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, in the early morning at 1.23 am local time (GMT +8). The quake had a moderate depth of 75 km (46 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"The Iranian security agents came at 2 a.m., pulling up in a half-dozen cars outside the home of the Nakhii family. They woke up the sleeping sisters, Nyusha and Mona, and forced them to give the passwords for their phones. Then they took the two away.The women were accused of participating in the nationwide protests that shook Iran a week earlier, a friend of the pair told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity for her security as she described the Jan. 16 arrests.
Such arrests have been happening for weeks following the government crackdown last month that crushed the protests calling for the end of the country’s theocratic rule. Reports of raids on homes and workplaces have come from major cities and rural towns alike, revealing a dragnet that has touched large swaths of Iranian society. University students, doctors, lawyers, teachers, actors, business owners, athletes and filmmakers have been swept up, as well as reformist figures close to President Masoud Pezeshkian." NYP
"Mere days after the US-backed government in Taipei launched the so-called Joint Firepower Coordination Center (JFCC), defined as “an enhanced firepower coordination effort in close cooperation with the United States”, multirole sources have confirmed that the Chinesebreakaway island province of Taiwan is deploying the overhyped and exorbitantly overpriced M142 HIMARS MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) to the islands of Penghu and Dongyin.
The US-made system is also equipped with ATACMS missiles, extending its reach to 300 km. Taipei insists that this will “strengthen the effectiveness of the kill chain”, while its Ministry of Defense (MoD) stressed that the increase in HIMARS orders to 111 units was undertaken specifically to forward-deploy them to the islands closest to China’s mainland." ZH
"218 combat engagements were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders.
Russian aviation strikes targeted areas in Velykomykhailivka, Kolomiitsi, and Pokrovske in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as Samoilivka, Barvinivka, Svoboda, Huliaipilske, Lisne, Kopani, Hirske, Verkhnia Tersa, Zaliznychne, Charivne, Dolynka, and Zaporozhets in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The missile and artillery units of the Defense Forces struck one Russian UAV control post.In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, four engagements took place. Russian forces carried out three airstrikes, dropping six bombs, and 109 artillery strikes, including 10 from MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attempted 15 times to break through defensive lines in the areas of Prylipka, Starytsia, Vovchanski Khutory, Vovchansk, Lyman, and toward Okhrimivka, Zybyne, and Mala Vovcha.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces launched two attacks toward Bohuslavka and Pishchane.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces conducted 17 attacks, attempting to breach defenses in Hrekivka, Karpivka, Serednie, Derylove, Zarichne, and Drobysheve, and toward Stavky.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 11 Russian attempts to advance in Platonivka, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and Ozerne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy carried out one offensive action near Nykyforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces conducted 18 attacks near Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and in the sectors of Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 56 Russian assault actions in Rodynske, Rivne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Ivanivka, Filiia, and toward Kucheriv Yar, Dorozhnie, Novyi Donbas, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodne, Novopavlivka, and Novooleksandrivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy carried out two attacks toward Ivanivka and Oleksandrohrad.
In the Huliaipole sector, there were 35 Russian attacks in Huliaipole, Zahirne, Dorozhnianka, and toward Zaliznychne and Staroukrainka.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces attacked three times near Mali Shcherbaky, Plavni, and toward Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy conducted one unsuccessful offensive action." Ukrin
"At least one person has been reported dead since Storm Nils began impacting France bringing destructive winds of over 180 km/h (112 mph) to some areas.
The strongest gust of 185 km/h (115 mph) was recorded at Cagnano. Gusts reached 180 km/h(112 mph) in Caixas, located in the Aspres area, while the Perpignan–Rivesaltes station recorded a gust of 149 km/h (93 mph).
A lorry driver died after a tree branch fell on his vehicle near Dax in southwest France. The incident occurred overnight on D824 at Mées near Dax in the Landes department.
A man in Bayonne suffered minor injuries after a tree fell on his car, while in Charente, 66 residents of a care home in La Rochefoucauld were evacuated as a precaution due to its location near a river.
Over 900 000 customers experienced power outages. Most of the outages were concentrated around the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie areas, according to grid operator Enedis. The company deployed more than 400 workers to restore power." W
"Two people have been injured in a Russian attack on the Vyshhorod district of Kyiv Oblast. Russian forces launched attack drones in the evening and air defense systems were responding in the capital." Pravada
"Russia appeared to confirm on Feb. 13 the existence of a sweeping U.S.-Russia economic proposal known in Kyiv as the "Dmitriev package," days after President Volodymyr Zelensky first disclosed it publicly.
The Ukrainian president said on Feb. 6 that intelligence had briefed him on what he described as a roughly $12 trillion framework for large-scale economic cooperation between Moscow and Washington."Intelligence showed me the so-called 'Dmitriev package' that he presented in the U.S. — it amounts to around $12 trillion," Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv.
The reference is to Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy who heads Russia's sovereign wealth fund and has remained engaged with top U.S. officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The White House twice declined to confirm the existence of such proposals in comments to the Kyiv Independent — first after Zelensky's disclosure and again following a subsequent Bloomberg reporting.
The Russian acknowledgment marks the first official signal that such proposals are on the table as the U.S. pushes for a deal to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
Citing an internal Russian memo prepared earlier this year, the outlet said Moscow wants relief from restrictions that have cut it off from the dollar payment system.
Russia reportedly views the restoration of dollar-based settlements as part of a potential peace deal. The memo outlines seven areas of possible U.S.-Russia cooperation.
Beyond regaining access to dollar transactions, Moscow reportedly seeks long-term contracts for American aircraft to modernize Russia's commercial fleet, as well as joint ventures in hard-to-recover oil extraction and liquefied natural gas production.
The Kremlin has long sought the lifting of U.S. sanctions on its aviation sector.
The proposals also include cooperation in nuclear energy, and expanded mining projects for lithium, copper, nickel, and platinum.
To sweeten the offer, the Kremlin signals it is ready to factor in previous American investments in Russia and contribute to compensation for losses incurred after Western companies exited the market following the start of Moscow's all-out war.
U.S. firms would receive preferential treatment if they return to Russia's market.
The plan also envisions joint efforts to promote fossil fuels globally as an alternative to the so-called "green" climate-focused policies." KI
"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Solomon Sea near Mbanika Island island,
Solomon Islands, in the early afternoon at 2.12 pm local time (Pacific/Guadalcanal GMT +11). The quake had a very shallow depth of 12.6 km (8 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"A very strong magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near Espiritu Santo island, Vanuatu, around noon at 1.27 pm local time (Pacific/Efate GMT +11). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.
The quake was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD
"A strong magnitude 5.6 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea 149 km (93 mi) from Indonesia late in the evening at 11.57 pm local time (GMT +9). The quake had a shallow depth of 56 km (35 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD
"Ukrainian forces reported 194 combat clashes at the front, with the Russian military.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, one clash occurred; the enemy conducted four airstrikes, dropped eight bombs, and carried out 82 attacks on settlements and Ukrainian positions.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attempted assaults near Prylipka, Starytsia, Vovchanski Khutory, Vovchansk, Lyman, and toward Okhrimivka, Zybyne, and Mala Vovcha. Ukrainian troops repelled eight attacks; three clashes are ongoing.
In the Kupiansk sector, one attack occurred near Bohuslavka.In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 12 attacks near Hrekivka, Karpivka, Serednie, Derylove, Zarichne, Drobysheve, and toward Stavky. One clash continues.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 enemy attacks near Platonivka, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka, Ozerne. One clash is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, there was one enemy offensive near Nykiforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces conducted 16 assaults near Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and toward Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, Novopavlivka, Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, enemy launched 54 attacks, targeting Rodynske, Rivne, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Ivanivka, Filiia, and toward Kucheriv Yar, Dorozhne, Novyi Donbas, Hryshyne, Novopidhorodnie, Novopavlivka, Novooleksandrivka. Battles continue in some locations. Ukrainian forces reportedly eliminated 50 invaders, injured 14, destroyed 25 drones, one vehicle, two units of transport, and 10 enemy shelters.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukrainian units repelled two attacks toward Ivanivka and Oleksandrohrad. Settlements Kolomyitsi and Velykomykhailivka were hit by glide bombs.
In the Huliaipole sector, 29 enemy attacks occurred near Huliaipole, Zahirne, Dorozhnianka, and toward Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka. Russian airstrikes also hit Samiilivka, Barvinivka, Svoboda, Huliaipilske, Lisne, Kopani, Hirke, Verkhnia Tersa, and Zaliznychne. Four clashes are ongoing.
In the Orikhiv sector, three attacks were reported near Mali Shcherbaky, Plavni, and toward Prymorske. Glide bomb strikes hit the area near the settlement of Zaporizhets.
In the Prydniprovske sector, one unsuccessful enemy offensive was recorded." Ukrin
"U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has abruptly skipped a meeting on Ukraine on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference “at the last minute,” according to the Financial Times.
The so-called Berlin Format gathering on Friday was attended by Kiev’s European backers – including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as the heads of the European Commission, the European Council, and NATO – who are seeking to insert their vision of a “just peace deal” into the US-led negotiations process.
An unnamed European official described the last-minute cancellation, officially blamed on alleged “scheduling conflicts,” as “insane,” while another told FT that without Rubio the entire meeting “lacked substance.”
RT
_13.jpg)
