Russia's Belgorod Oblast faces blackouts, heating shortages

"Blackouts and heating outages were reported in the Russian city of Belgorod on Feb. 7 after

alleged attacks on a local thermal power plant and electrical substation.
The news marks the third time this week that widespread power outages have been reported in Belgorod Oblast.
Residents reported that the Belgorod electrical substation and the city's Luch thermal power plant were attacked the morning of Feb. 7, according to local Telegram channels. Power outages were then reported in mutliple districts of Belgorod and surrounding areas." KI

Cuba Ready To Negotiate With Trump, But Urges Dialing Down Of Pressure

"Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has offered to enter negotiations with Washington, but has made clear that this must happen "without pressure" - at a moment the Trump

administration is seeking to economically strangle Cuba - even going so far as to openly tout the desire to see regime change.
"Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States," the Cuban leader announced He made clear this can be a "dialogue on any topic... but without pressure or precondition."
President Trump has been seeking to end oil imports to Cuba, and after the Maduro overthrow, this has become a real possibility, given that the United States can now demand that the interim government in Caracas end its oil exports to Havana. Venezuela has always been Cuba's number one supplier." ZH

Suicide Bomb Rocks Pakistan's Capital, Over 30 Dead & 169 Wounded

"At least 31 people were killed and 169 others injured when a suicide bomber struck a Shia mosque on the outskirts of Islamabad during Friday prayers, Pakistani officials said, in one of the capital’s deadliest attacks in over a decade.

The blast happened in the Khadija al-Kubra Imambargah mosque in the outskirts of Islamabad, with police saying the attacker had been stopped at the mosque gate before opening fire and setting off explosives among worshipers.
No group claimed responsibility yet; however, conflict monitor ACLED said the attack "bears the hallmarks of the Islamic State," while officials noted that Shia communities, a minority in Pakistan, have repeatedly been targeted in sectarian violence by extremist groups, including the Islamic State and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan." ZH

5.0 Earthquake - Off the Coast of Central America

"The closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Muisne, a town with 13,000 inhabitants in Ecuador, in 532 km (331 mi) distance southeast of the epicenter. People likely experienced very weak shaking there. In the capital of Ecuador, Quito, 723 km (449 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake could not be felt.

The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking." VD

US Retains Right To 'Militarily Secure' Chagos Air Base, Trump Says

"U.S. President Donald Trump said on he retained the right to “militarily secure” the U.S.–

UK Diego Garcia air base in the Chagos Islands, if future arrangements threatened American access.
Trump has criticized the UK’s decision to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it an “act of total weakness” last month. Under the agreement, signed in October 2025, the Diego Garcia military base would remain under UK control for at least 99 years, ensuring continued access for U.S. forces." ZeroHedge

5.1 Earthquake - Balleny Islands Region

"A strong magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean 523 km (325 mi)

from Antarctica in the morning. 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

241 frontline clashes

"241 combat engagements took place, with the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, nine clashes occurred today; the enemy carried out 63 artillery strikes on the Ukrainian troops’ positions and settlements, including seven with multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 15 times near Zelene, Starytsia, Chuhunivka, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and toward Hryhorivka. Three clashes are ongoing.

In the Kupiansk sector, the Russians attacked 12 times toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Hlushkivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Shiikivka, and Pishchane. Seven clashes are ongoing.
In the Lyman sector, Ukrainian troops repelled 18 attacks near Kopanky, Serednie, Novoselivka, Stavky, Drobysheve, and Zarichne. One clash is ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 10 enemy attacks near Platonivka, Yampil, Zakitne, and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Kramatorsk sector, Russian forces attacked six times near Minkivka, Predtechyne, Vasiukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, and toward Pryvillia. One engagement is ongoing.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy launched 26 attacks near Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Kostiantynivka, and toward Ivanopillia, Berestok, Novopavlivka, Illinivka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces conducted 37 attacks, attempting to advance near Vilne, Novyi Donbas, Rodynske, Kotlyne, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Molodetske, Filiia, and toward Serhiivka, Bilytske, Novooleksandrivka, Novopidhorodnie, and Novopavlivka. Two clashes are ongoing.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukrainian units repelled five attacks near Pryvillia, Oleksandrohrad, and toward Ivanivka. Airstrikes targeted Orly and Pokrovske.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 15 enemy attacks near Huliaipole and toward Sviatopetrivka, Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zelene, and Olenokostiantynivka. One clash is ongoing. The enemy carried out airstrikes, including near Novosoloshyne, Liubytske, Barvinivka, Shyroke, Dolynka, and Vozdvyzhivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions seven times near Mali Shcherbaky, Stepnohirsk, and toward Pavlivka, Prymorske, and Lukianivske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy launched two unsuccessful attacks." Ukrin