5 injured as avalanche derails passenger train near Goppenstein, Switzerland

"An avalanche derailed a passenger train near Goppenstein in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, injuring five of the 29 people on board." W

Drones strike multiple Russian regions, sparking major fire at oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai

"Drone attacks targeted several regions of Russia overnight including the Ilsky oil refinery in Krasnodar Krai, where a large-scale fire broke out following reported strikes, according to local authorities, Telegram channels, and monitoring groups.
The refinery, which supplies fuel to Russian troops, processes 6.42 million tons of oil annually, according to Ukraine's General Staff. Due to its proximity to Black Sea ports, its products are widely used to support Russian military logistics.
Pro-Russian Telegram channels with alleged ties to security services claimed that Krasnodar Krai had been under attack by Ukrainian drones since the evening. Local air defense systems shot down more than 20 drones over the region, though the Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims." Ukrin

5.7 Earthquake - Coral Sea, 40 km southwest of Utupua Island, Solomon Islands

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea near Utupua island, Solomon Islands, in the early morning at 6.23 am local time (GMT +11). The quake had a shallow depth of 40 km (25 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

6.0 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 100 km northeast of Ostrov Shumshu Island, Kamchatka, Russia

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 96 km (60 mi) from Kamchatka, Russia, in the morning at 9.42 am local time (Asia/Kamchatka GMT +12). The quake had a shallow depth of 43 km (27 mi) and was felt by many near the epicenter. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

201 combat clashes on front line over past day

"201 combat clashes were recorded between the Defense Forces of Ukraine and Russian invaders.
Russian aircraft struck areas near Velykomykhailivka, Malynivka, Vovche in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Samiilivka, Novoukrainka, Kopani, Hirke, Shyroke, Charivne, Myrne, Liubytske, Vozdvyzhivka, Rozivka, Nizhenka, Mykilske, Novoandriivka, Kushchove in the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Olhivka and Vesele in the Kherson region.
Ukrainian Defense Forces aviation struck five areas where Russian personnel were concentrated.

In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, seven clashes occurred. The enemy carried out 88 shelling attacks, including three using MLRS.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Russian forces attempted 11 times to break through defensive lines near Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and toward Hrafske, Vilcha, Sheviakivka, and Chuhunivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian troops launched six attacks toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Novoosynove, and Bohuslavka.
In the Lyman sector, the invaders carried out 14 attacks, attempting to penetrate defenses toward Nadiia, Hlushchenkove, Oleksandrivka, Druzheliubivka, Tverdokhlibove, Drobysheve, Stavky, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled seven attempts to advance toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and near Platonivka and Dronivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the enemy conducted five offensive actions near Minkivka, Vasiukivka, Bondarne, and Orikhovo-Vasylivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops carried out 16 attacks near Kostiantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Oleksandro-Kalynove, Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and toward Novopavlivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 42 assault actions near Rodynske, Chervonyi Lyman, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, and toward Toretske, Novyi Donbas, Vilne, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka, Novopidhorodne, and Filiia.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched eight attacks toward Ivanivka, Oleksiivka, Verbove, Pryvillia, and Zlahoda.
In the Huliaipole sector, 37 Russian attacks took place toward Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zaliznychne, Huliaipole, Sviatopetrivka, Zelene, and Staroukrainka." Ukrin

Ukrainian drone attack targets multiple Russian oblasts, Bryansk reportedly left largely without electricity

"Russian officials reported a large-scale drone attack targeting multiple regions on Feb. 15, including Moscow, Bryansk, and Belgorod Oblasts.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin claimed that Russian air defenses shot down 13 drones heading toward the capital, with emergency services responding to debris at impact sites.
Temporary flight restrictions were introduced at Domodedovo airport but were later lifted, according to state media.
Bryansk Oblast Governor Alexander Bogomaz said the region had been under sustained UAV attack since early morning, claiming that 120 drones were destroyed there. He later noted that strikes on energy infrastructure left five municipalities and parts of the city of Bryansk without heat and electricity." KI

Former Energy Minister detained at border in Ukraine's biggest corruption case

"Former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko was detained while attempting to cross the

border, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Feb. 15.
"Today, while crossing the border, NABU detectives detained a former energy minister as part of the Midas case," the bureau said.
Halushchenko is under investigation by NABU in connection with the broader Energoatom corruption case, considered the largest anti-corruption case during President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidency. Eight suspects have been formally charged." KI

Mag. 4.5 earthquake - 44 km south of Albox, Almeria, Andalusia, Spain

"Numerous people reported to have felt the quake.
Felt earthquake: 4.5 quake 41 km southwest of Albox, Almeria, Andalusia, Spain." VD

6.0 Earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 64 km southeast of Ostrov Shiashkotan Island, Sakhalin Oblast, Russia

"A very strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean near Ostrov Shiashkotan island, Russia, in the early morningat 1.58 am local time (GMT +10). The quake had a shallow depth of 55 km (34 mi) and was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

5.0 Earthquake - 21 km northwest of Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru

"A strong magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit 21 km (13 mi) away from Arequipa, Arequipa, Peru, in the early morning at 1.03 am local time (America/Lima GMT -5). The quake had a moderate depth of 131 km (81 mi) and was reported felt by some people near the epicenter." VD

205 combat engagements on front line

"Over the past 24 hours, 205 combat engagements have occurred between the Ukrainian Defense Forces and Russian troops.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, Ukrainian defenders repelled seven attacks over the past day, while the enemy carried out 147 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas, four of which were with multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy stormed the positions of Ukrainian

units 12 times in the areas of the settlements of Starytsia, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, Rybalchyne, and toward the settlements of Hrafske, Okhrimivka, and Kolodiazne.
In the Kupiansk sector, the invaders launched eight attacks yesterday. The Defense Forces repelled the enemy's assault in the settlements of Pishchane and Borivska Andriivka, and in the direction of Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 12 times, trying to advance in the area of Hrekivka and toward Stavky, Drobysheve, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 11 attempts by the invaders to advance in the areas of Dronivka, Yampil, Zakitne, and toward Platonivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the Russians made three attempts to advance on Ukrainian positions toward Novodmytrivka and in the Predtechyne area.
In the Kostyantynivka sector, the enemy carried out 13 attacks in the areas of the settlements of Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, and Sofiivka, as well as toward Illinivka and Kostiantynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 59 assaults and offensive actions by the aggressor in the areas of the settlements of Zatyshok, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novoserhiivka, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, Dachne, and in the direction of the settlements of Vilne, Bilytske, Nove Shakhove, Shevchenko, Novooleksandrivka, Serhiivka, and Ivanivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions five times in the areas of Vyshneve, Zlahoda, and Pryvillia.
In the Huliaipole sector, the enemy attempted to advance on Ukrainian defenders' positions 19 times in the areas of Huliaipole, Rybne, and toward Zelene, Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, and Pryluky.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled two attacks in the Prymorske area." Ukrin

4.3 earthquake - North Pacific Ocean, 213 mi southwest of Unalaska, Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska, United States

"A moderate magnitude 4.3 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 171 km (106 mi) from United States in the morning at 8.28 am local time (GMT -10). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.
The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

Ukraine destroys half of Russia's 'key' Pantsir air defense systems

"The Alpha unit of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) destroyed half of Russia's stockpile of

the 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

Cyclone Gezani Shreds Madagascar Port City, Leaving At Least 36 Dead

“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

Rubio Says US & Europe "Belong Together", Urges Alignment With Trump's Vision For Western Revival

"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