RSnake Report 20251214

Hello, and thanks for reading! The elves are hard at work getting gifts together for the Holidays, and we’ve been seeing a lot more of family, which has been nice. I hope you have got all your gifts together, because with the Airbus A320 grounded flights due to failures caused by solar radiation, it may be a longer delay for deliveries than is typical. I am going to do this particular newsletter out of order to make it a bit easier to read. Let’s start with the related sections first, even though it may not seem related at first.

In Russian/Ukrainian news, Russian Telegram channels report Ukrainian forces have replicated Russia's Molniya-1 fixed-wing FPV drone as the Bliskavka model, with 80 Ukrainian units deploying them. The channels warn Russian soldiers to increase battlefield caution; these tend to be longer-range than the quadcopter design, so these will likely be used for long-range attacks against strategic positions. Given how light and cheaply they are made, they are not really designed for ISR missions, but more for ground attack against infrastructure, like electrical grids, or stationary vehicles or structures.

Russia has recently deployed the BTM-3 high-speed trench machine in occupied Ukraine. The vehicle features a rear rotor with eight 160-liter buckets that digs trenches up to 1.5 meters deep and 1.1 meters wide. It’s a very smartly designed peice of equipment that would have seemed fully pointless until this war, given that i don’t think many military experts were expecting to be engaging in trench warfare in the 21st century, and yet here we are.

Ukrainian Wild Hornets group introduced the Hornet Vision video system for STING anti-Shahed drones, providing higher resolution transmission from interceptor to operator. A video from the 1129th Bila Tserkva Air Defense Regiment shows the system in use during a successful Shahed interception. So I suspect we will begin to see much higher resolution air interdiction. My worry, though, is that these things have to pump out a lot of bandwidth for those extra pixels, and you generally do not want that much radiation in today’s battle space, because the adversary's ISR missions can easily pick it up.

Ukrainian SBU naval drones, known as Sea Babies, struck the Russian shadow fleet tanker Dashan in the Black Sea. The Comoros-flagged vessel was traveling through Ukraine's exclusive economic zone toward Novorossiysk port when it sustained critical damage and became disabled. Ukrainian media reports the tanker's value at $30 million, with each voyage carrying $60 million in petroleum products. That’s a lot of value suddenly destroyed by Ukraine, which drives up the cost to Russia and drives down the price of Russian oil in more ways than one.

For example, many tankers carrying unsold Russian oil remain at sea, driving down prices as storage issues mount. Where is Russia going to put all of this oil they cannot sell like they used to before sanctions? Russian petroleum production requires constant movement. It ultimately requires shutdowns of oil pumps, as occurred after the USSR's collapse. Worse yet, restarting them again would require help from Western partners, who have very little incentive to help Putin. Russia currently pays China and India to accept its crude to avoid permanent losses, lacking the equipment, training, and Western expertise needed to restart wells. Yes, you heard me, it is now paying partners to take its oil off its hands. That is not a good short-term problem that potentially staves off a long-term problem, but either way, it’s not a great situation to be in.

In related news, Russian forces launched a ballistic missile and drone attack on Odesa Oblast ports hours after a call between Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Putin. The strikes damaged three Turkish-owned commercial vessels, including the Panamanian-flagged roll-on/roll-off ferry CENK T, which caught fire after being hit by a drone. In the past 48 hours, Russian suicide drones struck four Turkish vessels, raising questions about NATO Article 5 activation since Turkey is a member state. Now the question is, does NATO feel like engaging in a war against Russia for a few boats? We have entered two world wars for about the same level of aggression before.

In European news, the European Commission fined X 120 million euros for DSA violations, including deceptive blue checkmark design, lack of advertising repository transparency, and restricted public data access for researchers. Elon Musk responded by calling for the EU's dissolution, arguing escalation would confirm overreach narratives, retreat would show regulatory capture, and inaction would render Brussels irrelevant. This is getting slightly conflated with calls for more censorship coming out of the UK and the EU, due to a rise in perceived hate speech and disinformation.

In response, the U.S. GRANITE Act targets both EU and Brazilian online censorship by stripping foreign sovereign immunity, allowing lawsuits for treble damages or at least $10 million per violation against entities fining or banning American platforms. Filed in Wyoming and New Hampshire, a federal version nears House introduction following EU fines on X and UK Ofcom threats. The bill addresses Brussels' DSA enforcement and Brazil's X and Rumble bans, enabling U.S. courts to freeze assets and counter foreign gag orders. That said, the current EU fines aren’t exactly directly about censorship, even if, ultimately, that is the EU's goal. But there is nothing stopping the EU from creating extra bureaucracy to disguise what its real intentions are. They are great at bureaucracy, making 3.8 billion euros in fines against US companies in 2024 alone.

At the same time, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged Europe to prepare for war on the scale of past generations, stating that Russia views NATO as its next target and could use military force against the alliance within five years. He called for a wartime mindset, full Ukrainian support, and noted that Russia loses 1,200 soldiers daily. Rutte specified that 80% of critical components in Russian drones and missiles come from China, making it a lifeline for the war.

Then the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz declared the end of Pax Americana, citing a permanent U.S. withdrawal from Europe as America pursues its own interests ruthlessly. This is a very narrow-minded view of what is happening, but it is shared amongst many in the EU. If you look at the European expenditure per GDP of military, Germany was 1.5 in 2023. NATO requires a minimum of 2%. So where does the shortfall come from? The United States, which spent 3.4% of its GDP in 2023. Other non-compliant countries are Albania (1.8%), Belgium (1.2%), Canada (1.3%), Bulgaria (1.8%), Croatia (1.8%), Czechia (1.5%), Italy (1.6%), Luxembourg (0.7%), Montenegro (1.6%), North Macedonia (1.7%), Norway (1.6%), Portugal (1.5%), Romania (1.6%), Slovenia (1.3%), Spain (1.5%), Sweden (1.5%), Netherlands (1.5%), and Turkiye (1.5%). That’s around half of the NATO countries that have shirked their responsibilities. So why should the US protect these countries when they have de facto withdrawn from their obligations? It’s an important question for everyone in the NATO countries to ponder when they start complaining about the US refocusing on its own interests. Isn’t that what the EU has been doing this whole time with those funds that didn’t go into defense?

In South of the Border news, U.S. forces there have new info on how the interdiction of stateless drug boats, or boats in general that do not have visible flags, in international waters is permitted and does not constitute committing war crimes. UNCLOS classifies unflagged vessels as unprotected and authorizes boarding, seizure, or disabling force for illicit activities like narcotics trafficking. No armed conflict exists, so international humanitarian law does not apply. Lethal force is permitted if vessels refuse orders or pose threats. Not that this is about drugs exactly. It is to a degree, but it is far more about spheres of influence and who is influencing the cartels and nations that are within short ballistic missile firing ranges of the US shores.

The U.S. continues to intensify its SOUTHCOM military buildup in the Caribbean, deploying F-35A strike aircraft, VAQ-132 Growlers for electronic attack, HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopters, HC-130J aircraft from CENTCOM and INDOPACOM, six KC-135 tankers to the Dominican Republic, and an MQ-4C Triton drone. An AN/TPS-80 radar operates in Trinidad and Tobago, with increased flights near Venezuela. The Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group positions in the central Caribbean amid rumors of Maduro's ouster by Christmas. It’s also deployed CSAR units which handle emergency battlefield triage, and is a good indicator of what is likely to become a hot war, similar to what happened when Russia built forward deployed field hospitals in the days before the assault on Ukraine.

Okay, so what is this really about? We obviously do not want a rival this close to US shores, and we have already sanctioned Venezuela heavily, well before all this. The drug boats are being financed by Maduro, but that is financed by Russia and China; the latter of the two is pushing fentanyl precursors into the United States and giving them power over our part of the world. But most of all, Venezuela holds the world's largest oil reserves at 20%, producing a specific type of oil called heavy crude, which the U.S. refineries require to operate. There are only three major places we tend to find this specific type of oil. The United States, Venezuela, and Russia. Since Maduro's tenure began, Venezuela has imported no oil, and U.S. sanctions prevent the use of Russian heavy crude due to the Ukraine war, prompting U.S. efforts to access Venezuelan supplies. Therefore, our refineries are lacking as much access to the heavy crude type that they need.

So that brings me to what I really wanted to discuss today in North American news. I want to steel-man this argument because I am not actually sure I agree with it. The U.S. is beginning to pursue a modern Monroe Doctrine to secure the Western Hemisphere against Chinese, Russian, and Iranian influence through cartels, ports, loans, and arms deals. For short-term political reasons, the US needs to frame cartels as national security threats, enabling military actions like carrier deployments, airstrikes on cartel vessels, sanctions, and CIA expansions around Venezuela, Guyana, and Colombia to control energy, logistics, and migration routes. This counters external leverage in supply chains and commodities, preventing rivals from establishing footholds. This more or less means we need to start rethinking our existing treaties. So…. speaking of which…

Rep. Thomas Massie introduced HR 6508, the Not A Trusted Organization Act, to withdraw the U.S. from NATO within 30 days and halt funding. The bill calls NATO a Cold War relic post-1991 Soviet collapse, notes unfulfilled promises against eastward expansion, and criticizes the nearly half of members failing the required 2% GDP defense spending. It argues that European allies' combined strength exceeds Russia's, making U.S. subsidies unnecessary and inconsistent with American security. Whether true or not, it almost doesn’t matter; we aren’t getting the support from NATO, and it seems to want to fine our companies, potentially jail our citizens for memes, and does virtually nothing about the increasingly dangerous increase in the Muslim population, who do not seem to want to integrate with the EU or western ideals. This then paves the way for a new doctrine that puts chills up my spine: ARC. America, Russia, and China. The three major global military powers.

Let’s play out a world where we no longer fight against Russian or Chinese interests along approximately the lines in the hilariously crappy image above, which’s been circling around a bit, may have more merit than people give it credit for. What would that mean and allow for? The US would no longer get embroiled in conflicts in Africa, the taking of Taiwan, Indian/Pakistani conflicts, the Cambodian/Thai conflict, North and South Korean conflict, the Russian/Ukraine conflict, it would withdraw us from worrying about ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, Iran, and even things like the Kurdish/Turkish conflict, etc. We no longer worry about whatever the EU wants to do. It would leave true partners in the dust, like Japan, Poland, and Israel, but it gains a lot of peace. It also allows us to draw our troops back home and allows us to focus more on conflicts closer to home, stabilize the countries in South America, degrade the cartels, and stop virtually all foreign meddling. It puts America first, in the truest form of the word America, which includes all of the Americas, not just the US alone. It turns people like Bukele into a model citizen for what politicians become in South America, focused on their people, reducing crime, increasing commerce, and cooperation.

There is also a lot to worry about here, including the vast economies we’d be cutting ourselves off from, the increasing likelihood of large-scale wars that tend to spill over into world wars as we withdraw and create power vacuums, the reversal of the dollar as the world currency, the broken supply chains, and so much more. But this has been foretold in the book The End of the World is Just the Beginning. A broken supply chain is already underway, and rare earths are being limited by China due to sanctions, and the Ukrainian war is taking out shipping in the Red Sea and on and off again in the Gulf of Aden due to the Houthis. So, perhaps the US military/government has realized they need to start moving in that direction. So again, I’m not entirely sure I’m sold on this doctrine, and I’m not sure it’s even real, but I figured I’d lay it all out so you can think about it and let me know what your thoughts are.

Meanwhile, the Russian GRU hackers damaged multiple Texas water utilities in 2024, per a U.S. indictment detailing years of operations against Western infrastructure. I am sure Brussels/Munich is going to start dropping bombs because of this attack on a NATO country. Or is Article V for show? ☢️ But, you should always have plenty of water and food, and this is your reminder that we are at war, even if the news doesn’t frame it that way.

In other news, the U.S. Marine Corps contracted for Rogue 1 strike drones, ground stations, and services at $70,800 per unit, a 25% cost reduction from initial procurements. Expensive, but I’m guessing it is quite capable and portable for its payload size.

A U.S. test demonstrated a drone swarm attack on a decoy tank, outpacing defensive systems like automated guns or active protection, especially against multidirectional swarms. It’s really good to see the US starting to test these scenarios.

On the higher end, Northrop Grumman's Jackal precision strike missile offers over 100 km range, high-subsonic speed, modular lethal or ISR payloads, air/ground/maritime launch, and GPS-denied autonomous navigation. The dynamic payloads mean a swarm of these could be used to identify, jam, and destroy targets.

On the bulky side, DZYNE Technologies' Grasshopper is an autonomous, turbine-powered aerial resupply platform with a 500 lb payload, designed for air-launched operations in contested environments, cargo delivery, humanitarian aid, and frontline logistics. These little trucks can be dropped a few miles out of range, and fly the rest of the way in and then parachute down to the target.

Boeing's Laser Avenger directed energy weapon destroyed a 60mm round using an infrared laser. The good news is that this isn’t visible, the bad news is it seems to take many seconds of directed invisible light to detonate munitions, so this will really only make sense for stationary targets from what I can tell.

The U.S. government terminated Microsoft's digital escort program, which allowed Chinese Communist Party-associated engineers access to sensitive Pentagon cloud systems, ending potential spying risks on DoD/DoW contracts. Good riddance.

There were two mass shootings this week. In the US, there was a shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and nine injured. A person of interest is in custody, perthe Providence mayor's communications director. No details on motive yet.

Also, in South East Asian news, in what was the first night of Hannukah and in celebration, about 1,000 people were on Bondi beach when a terrorist attack targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, with over 1,000 attendees. Two Islamic terrorists opened fire with rifles, killing ten or more people before a bystander disarmed one armed with a long rifle and New South Wales Police shot and arrested them. I was assured this could never happen since Australia has very strict gun control… 👎️ Very sad situation.

China's Honghu T70 electric autonomous tractor operates in Hebei Province with plans for nationwide rollout. It handles ploughing, seeding, spraying, and harvesting without a driver, using satellite navigation for centimeter precision and collecting soil, moisture, and crop data. The tractor charges via grid or renewables, reduces reliance on Western imports, and could enable single-person management of small farms, freeing rural workers for urban roles and opening export markets in Southeast Asia and Africa. This meets the Chinese needs for fewer farmers and people in general, with the upcoming huge population decline that is on the horizon.

Japan's Defense Minister protested China's repeated fire-control radar locks by J-15 jets from the Liaoning carrier on Japanese F-15 fighters in international airspace southeast of Okinawa on December 6. Japan scrambled fighters over 650 times against Chinese incursions in 2024.

The Trump-negotiated peace between Thailand and Cambodia is over. Thai F-16s conducted airstrikes on Cambodian artillery and command posts in Oddar Meanchey Province after grenade and rocket attacks killed two Thai soldiers and wounded four near Phu Pha Lek. Clashes lasted over 30 minutes, with borders sealed and 385,000 Thais evacuated, following July's 48-death incident that displaced 300,000. Cambodia accuses Thailand of provocation and mines. Thailand blames Cambodian shelling near Ta Kwai Temple. Thai forces destroyed Cambodia's Golden Horse Monument, a symbol of the Royal Cambodian Army's 3rd Support Battalion, using a 105mm or 82mm recoilless gun. Cambodian MLRS units fired on Thai positions, and Thai Oplot-T tanks shelled a Cambodian casino used as a military base. Thailand targeted another casino in Thmor Da with a GBU-12 guided bomb, converted into a Cambodian command center and drone site. A Cambodian army attack on a Thai border post escalated the conflict, threatening a U.S.-brokered October truce and risking ASEAN instability with $10 billion in trade at stake. What a mess.

In Middle East news, Saudi Arabia reversed its Yemen military disengagement and launched a ground invasion for the second time in ten years, following UAE-backed separatist assaults on Hadhramaut. Saudi Arabia has largely stayed out of conflicts in this region, but it could escalate, with Iran and the UAE now having to decide if they want to retaliate.

Israel's new UVision HERO 120 containerized loitering munition system features truck-mounted swarming capabilities with 40-60 km range, 60-minute endurance, 90-260 km/h speed, 4.5 kg warhead, EO/IR seeker, and silent electric propulsion. These could easily be hidden on boats or near cities and wreak havoc on opposition forces.

A security source in Syria reported U.S. troops and government fighters were wounded in an attack near Palmyra during anti-ISIS operations. Two government fighters and several U.S. soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to Al-Tanf base, with the attacker killed. Subsequently, U.S. fighter jets conducted airstrikes on Palmyra, Syria, with military convoys operating in the city under air cover. President Trump stated coordination with the Syrian army to fight ISIS after the legitimate president expressed anger.

In Tech news, GITAI robots cooperatively assembled a 5-meter tower as a demo for lunar and Martian habitats, with plans to scale to orbit. It is fairly interesting to watch how these systems can be used to build themselves, using only a couple of arms on tracks.

AI-generated slop now comprises up to half of Reddit posts, often created or edited via tools like ChatGPT to boost engagement. This cycle of AI feeding AI risks degrading search rankings on Google and AI engines like ChatGPT or Perplexity. However, an analysis of 7 million ChatGPT citations shows only 5% originate from Reddit, with 86% from brand-controlled pages, which brings into question Reddit's SEO value.

Google and XREAL announced Project Aura XR smart glasses for 2026, featuring 70° field of view for virtual screens, full Android app support in floating windows, Circle to Search on viewed objects, lightweight frame with hand tracking for controls, powered by a tethered compute puck. My favorite part of the video is where she removed them at the end. Why? Because, of course, they are obtrusive, annoying, and unstylish. The one good thing is that it does appear to sync with the user’s laptop.

A lawsuit accuses ChatGPT of complicity in a murder, though I think the case is fairly shaky, but we will see. Meanwhile, OpenAI's GPT-5.2 launch achieved 90.5% accuracy on ARC-AGI-1 at $11.64 per task, a 390x cost reduction from $4,500 a year ago, crossing human-cost parity for abstract reasoning. This efficiency shift in benchmarks like ARC-AGI, designed to resist scaling, now focuses competition on cheap generalization, with labs like OpenAI, Google, xAI, and Anthropic advancing rapidly; ARC-AGI-2 remains a harder frontier at 10-45% for current models versus near-100% human performance. The U.S. military also launched GenAI.mil, providing frontier AI models to warfighters for enhanced lethality, all American-made. 🇺🇸 

Okay, onto the articles!

A drone attack on a United Nations facility in Sudan has killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured eight others. The Sudanese army has attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, amidst a two-year conflict that has resulted in over 40,000 deaths and created a severe humanitarian crisis in the region.

• A drone attack in Kadugli, Sudan, killed six UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh.

• The conflict between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces has escalated, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis.

[RSnake: The US voted against a resolution to increase security for UN missions, and I believe we were the only ones.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/13/bangladesh-peacekeepers-killed-attack-un-base-abyei-sudan?traffic_source=rss

A mass shooting occurred at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, resulting in two deaths and nine injuries, with a manhunt ongoing for the suspect.

• The attack brings the number of mass shootings in the US to 389 this year, according to Gun Violence Archive.

• Brown University has more than 11,000 students and is part of the Ivy League, a group of elite universities in the northeastern United States.

[RSnake: Very sad. We shall see the details of the shooter soon enough. He yelled something before shooting, but it’s not been made clear what he yelled.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cre329w709qo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

Russia launched an attack on Ukraine using a ballistic missile and 138 drones, with strikes reported at six locations. The Ukrainian Air Force successfully shot down or jammed 110 of the drones during this ongoing assault.

• Russia conducted a significant military attack on Ukraine involving missiles and a large number of drones.

• Ukrainian defenses managed to intercept a majority of the incoming UAVs.

[RSnake: These are fairly good ratios, still, but if you think about it, if you want to have 10x the results, all you need is 10x the munitions if you’re Russia, so it will continue to be a problem as long as the supply of munitions continues up from China.]

Source: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/12/14/8011748/

European nations are ramping up military readiness in response to perceived threats from Russia, with many countries reinstating conscription and significantly increasing defense budgets. NATO has positioned thousands of troops close to the Russian border, and nations like the UK, France, and Germany are enhancing their military infrastructure and preparedness for potential conflict. This mobilization reflects a widespread belief among European leaders that war with Russia is a plausible scenario in the coming years.

• European countries are reinstating military conscription and increasing defense spending to prepare for potential conflict with Russia.

• NATO is mobilizing troops, with plans in place to deploy forces swiftly to the eastern front in response to rising tensions.

[RSnake: Hopefully they ramp up spending commensurate with the risks they keep talking about facing.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=259311

China is expanding its nuclear arsenal and enhancing its military capabilities, reflecting a shift towards a more aggressive posture regarding its regional ambitions, particularly concerning Taiwan. The increase in China's nuclear capabilities is raising strategic concerns for the United States and its allies, as it may impact the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region and challenge U.S. deterrence strategies.

• China aims for regional hegemony and has prioritized the unification of Taiwan with the mainland.

• China's nuclear arsenal is rapidly expanding, with projections to reach 1,000 warheads by 2030.

• Beijing's military advancements could undermine U.S. influence and deterrence in the Pacific region.

[RSnake: It makes sense. They know it is a strong deterrent to any direct aggression.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/12/12/the_challenge_of_a_rising_nuclear-armed_china_1152886.html

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was successfully extracted from Venezuela in a covert operation known as Operation Golden Dynamite, allowing her to travel to Norway to receive her Nobel Peace Prize. The operation involved significant risks, including a tumultuous sea journey and efforts to mask her identity due to her prominence and the dangers posed by the Venezuelan government. Amid rising tensions around potential US military actions in the region, Machado's situation reflects the ongoing political instability and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

• María Corina Machado was extracted from Venezuela through a covert operation to attend her Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

• The extraction operation illustrates the significant risks faced by political figures in Venezuela amidst rising US pressure on the Maduro government.

[RSnake: Wow, impressive, and very lucky for her that that went off well. But it also shows how lethal the Americans can be even while all eyes are on the coastline.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g990exxq4o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

A US House Oversight Committee Chairman has threatened contempt of Congress proceedings against former President Bill Clinton for not appearing for depositions in connection with an ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking case, while the committee also released a new batch of photos from Epstein's private island.

• Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, have been subpoenaed to testify in an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking case.

• The US House Oversight Committee has released a new batch of photos from Epstein's private island, including images of powerful figures like former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden.

[RSnake: It’s not going to look good if he doesn’t show up for those depositions.]

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republican-house-leader-signals-plan-begin-contempt-proceedings-against-bill-hillary-clinton

President Trump has authorized Nvidia to export advanced semiconductor chips to China, with considerable financial kickbacks to the U.S. government. This decision raises significant national security issues as it could enhance China's capabilities in artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies, potentially undermining U.S. strategic advantages. Congress is responding by introducing a bipartisan bill to halt any further loosening of export controls on chips.

• Trump's deal allows Nvidia to export cutting-edge chips to China in exchange for a 25% kickback to the U.S.

• This move poses serious national security risks by potentially strengthening China's AI and military capabilities.

• A bipartisan bill is being introduced in Congress to stop the deal and reinforce export controls.

[RSnake: NVIDIA will take that deal all day long. They need this revenue to keep their valuations high. It’s propping up the AI bubble, or whatever this thing is.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1214711

China has unveiled its world's largest UAV mothership, Jiutian, which is a massive, high-flying unmanned aircraft capable of unleashing a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) mid-air. The aircraft's colossal size could allow it to carry a swarm of small drones to cause significant damage.

• The Jiutian is the largest unmanned aircraft in the world, with a maximum takeoff weight of over 16 tons and a cargo capacity of about 6,000 kilograms.

• The aircraft can carry up to 100 smaller drones, including kamikaze UAVs, and can perform different roles, such as airborne signal relay and logistics.

[RSnake: This is going to be more of the way of things. It saves fuel and extends range so that the drones do not have to take the bulk of the distance. It is akin to a refueling jet in some respects.]

Source: https://www.eurasiantimes.com/?p=259293

Violent storms have hit Gaza, causing widespread destruction and loss of life, as Israel restricts the entry of vital shelter materials, violating a ceasefire agreement. At least 13 people have died and over 4,300 distress calls have been made. Over 250,000 displaced people are affected by floods and collapsing shelters.

• Israel has blocked the entry of tents and mobile homes into Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement that allowed for 300,000 units.

• Humanitarian workers warned of catastrophic consequences for displaced people if shelters are not allowed into Gaza ahead of the storm.

[RSnake: Really awful weather, but these people really should have chosen infrastructure over Hamas’ war efforts.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/gaza-tent-cities-under-water-amid-deadly-catastrophic-storm

The new U.S. National Security Strategy reflects a significant shift in foreign policy under President Trump, downplaying traditional concerns around Russia and altering the established U.S.-Europe relationship. This change includes implications for immigration and race relations, suggesting a focus on preserving a specific identity in both the U.S. and Europe, which may undermine long-standing alliances between these regions.

• The U.S. National Security Strategy has moved away from viewing Russia as a major threat.

• Trump's administration is promoting far-right ideologies in Europe, which could reshape transatlantic relations.

[RSnake: This is really a huge change, and may actually be a much bigger shift than the world understands and is prepared for.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1214543

Nick Fuentes has warned Turning Point USA (TPUSA) that he will expose Candace Owens if their December 15 livestream fails to address her claims about Charlie Kirk's death. Fuentes plans to livestream his own exposé, naming names and providing evidence, if TPUSA does not handle the situation properly.

• Nick Fuentes has threatened to expose Candace Owens if Turning Point USA (TPUSA) fails to address her claims about Charlie Kirk's death.

• Fuentes plans to livestream his own exposé on December 15 if TPUSA does not handle the situation properly.

[RSnake: Drama. It’s sad that this is still an ongoing debate. This is set for Monday if you want to watch the drama unfold.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us-streamers/some-ignorant-black-nick-fuentes-warns-he-will-expose-candace-owens-if-tpusa-livestream-on-charlie-kirk-fails/articleshow/125899625.cms

The G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group has initiated a six-point plan to enhance the resilience and security of Ukraine's energy infrastructure amidst ongoing Russian attacks. This plan includes measures to improve air defense, ensure adequate energy supplies for winter, and accelerate reforms in Ukraine's energy sector.

• G7+ has committed to strengthening Ukraine's energy infrastructure against Russian strikes.

• A comprehensive support package has been announced, including financial assistance and energy market reforms.

[RSnake: This likely will help quite a bit if they can figure out more ways to deliver power generation, like local geothermal, solar, etc, and staying away from long-haul transmission.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=380287

US forces stormed a cargo ship traveling from China to Iran, seizing material potentially useful for Iran's conventional weapons, in the latest reported instance of the Trump administration's aggressive maritime tactics.

• The operation took place in November and involved special operations forces who seized materials that could have both military and civilian applications.

• The US Indo-Pacific Command did not immediately confirm the report.

[RSnake: Hezbollah are terrorists, Iran is financing and arming them, and China is delivering parts to Iran. So what does that make China?]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/12/us-forces-stormed-cargo-ship-travelling-from-china-to-iran-report?traffic_source=rss

Pakistan has recently amended its constitution, solidifying military authority by restructuring its national defense architecture and transferring critical military responsibilities to the army leadership. This change raises concerns about the oversight and command of the country’s nuclear arsenal, as it may diminish the checks and balances necessary for effective governance in a volatile regional security environment.

• The 27th constitutional amendment in Pakistan enshrines military supremacy, effectively consolidating power within the army leadership.

• This reform disrupts the existing checks on nuclear command, potentially destabilizing South Asia's security dynamics.

[RSnake: This is likely partly in response to their terrible showing in the short-lived conflict/loss with India.]

Source: https://foreignpolicy.com/?p=1214571

The United States needs a new military service dedicated to cyberspace, citing the country's falling behind in cyberspace due to understaffed teams, inconsistent training, and technically inexperienced leadership. A dedicated cyber service could provide a more agile force tailored to the domain it protects.

• The United States needs a new military service dedicated to cyberspace due to understaffed teams, inconsistent training, and technically inexperienced leadership.

• The current structure of U.S. Cyber Command is unsustainable, with a focus on conducting missions that neglects talent pipeline management.

[RSnake: Cyber is the 5th domain (air, land sea, space and cyber), so it does make some sense.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/12/13/its_time_to_reboot_us_cyber_power_1153196.html

Coupang, South Korea's largest online retailer, suffered a data breach affecting 33.7 million customers, traced back to a former employee who retained access to internal systems after leaving the company. Following an investigation, the Seoul Metropolitan Police are examining potential negligence, and the impact of the breach has led to increased phishing activities across the country.

• A data breach at Coupang exposed the personal information of millions of customers.

• The investigation revealed that a former employee may have exploited their access after leaving the company.

• The incident has resulted in a surge of phishing attempts targeting Coupang customers.

[RSnake: I wonder if it’s North Korea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were them or China.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/coupang-data-breach-traced-to-ex-employee-who-retained-system-access/

A critical vulnerability in GeoServer, tracked as CVE-2025-58360, is actively being exploited in attacks, prompting CISA to order U.S. federal agencies to patch the affected servers by January 1st, 2026. This XML External Entity flaw allows unauthorized access to confidential data, potentially leading to denial-of-service attacks. The U.S. cybersecurity agency encourages swift action on patching this vulnerability due to the significant risks it poses to federal networks.

• GeoServer vulnerability CVE-2025-58360 allows unauthorized data access.

• CISA mandates urgent patches for federal agencies due to active exploitation.

[RSnake: Make sure you patch up! If CISA says so, it’s likely been exploited for a while.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/cisa-orders-feds-to-patch-actively-exploited-geoserver-flaw/

Apple has released iOS 26.2, which includes vital security patches addressing potential zero-day vulnerabilities affecting WebKit that could allow harmful code execution on devices. Significant flaws related to FaceTime, password disclosure during screen sharing, and unauthorized access to hidden photos were patched. Users are advised to update their devices promptly to mitigate these risks, especially given that the vulnerabilities have reportedly been exploited in targeted attacks against specific individuals.

• iOS 26.2 includes key security patches for critical vulnerabilities.

• The vulnerabilities could allow unauthorized access and code execution.

• Users should update devices immediately to protect against potential attacks.

[RSnake: Make sure you patch up your iPhone, folks.]

Source: https://lifehacker.com/tech/ios-26-update-december-2025?utm_medium=RSS

AI-powered cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can overwhelm manual detection methods, emphasizing the need for quicker and more in-depth network responses.

• AI-powered cyberattacks are accelerating and can use automated techniques to bypass safety guardrails, generate malicious scripts, and evade detection.

• Network Detection & Response (NDR) systems provide real-time insight to detect fast-moving, deceptive AI-based threats and automatically identify abnormal data transfers and network traffic patterns.

[RSnake: It’ll become a bigger and bigger problem, and I think this gets it right… I think the real issue is that AI overwhelms defenses, not that the attacks are novel.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ai-is-accelerating-cyberattacks-is-your-network-prepared/

A US oil tanker, seized by US forces in Venezuela, had a track record of faking or concealing its location information, and was reportedly involved in ship-to-ship transfers and sanctions evasion.

• The vessel, known as the Skipper, is believed to be part of the so-called "dark fleet", a global network of oil tankers that seek to evade oil sanctions by obscuring their ownership, identities, and travel histories.

• The ship has been accused of spoofing its position via its onboard tracker, a process known as spoofing, and of loading crude oil from Venezuela and Iran while falsifying its location.

[RSnake: One of many. Time to interdict and seize.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy8jvll9j81o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

The Washington Post has launched a customizable AI podcast format called 'Your Personal Podcast,' designed for younger audiences. However, internal communications reveal that this AI has produced erroneous content, including fake quotes and misleading commentary, leading to significant concern among the staff.

• The Washington Post's new AI podcast format allows users to customize topics, hosts, and lengths of episodes.

• The AI has been reported to generate inaccurate content, including invented quotes and misleading editorial comments.

[RSnake: Right, because people have abdicated their truth detection to AI, which has no idea if it’s lying or not, because it’s not a moral engine, it’s a next-token prediction engine.]

Source: https://www.dailywire.com/news/the-washington-posts-ai-podcast-rollout-has-been-a-train-wreck

Rivian is working on developing advanced autonomous driving features for its electric vehicles, with a focus on introducing 'Universal Hands-Free' driving in early 2026. The company has transitioned from a rules-based system to an AI-centric approach for their driving software, aiming to enhance the capabilities of their vehicles while addressing challenges related to the technology's rollout and management of consumer expectations.

• Rivian is transitioning its self-driving platform to an AI-centric model, launching in 2024 on its second-generation vehicles.

• The company aims for hands-free driving capabilities to be available on millions of miles of U.S. and Canadian roads by early 2026.

[RSnake: Good! I am glad to see competition in this space.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=3075726

Scientists have successfully transplanted gene-edited insulin-producing cells into a patient with type 1 diabetes, allowing him to produce some insulin without immunosuppressants. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for diabetes and other autoimmune diseases.

• A patient received 80 million lab-made insulin-producing cells that evade the immune system.

• This is the first successful cell transplant that did not trigger a rejection in a human, marking a significant advancement in diabetes treatment.

[RSnake: That is a massive breakthrough for millions of people. I hope that it works. Unlike Type 2, this Type 1 isn’t something that can be solved with healthy eating.]

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/video/new-cell-transplant-therapy-restores-insulin-production-in-patient-with-type/

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new $1 million visa program that offers fast track to US residency for individuals and companies, with significant benefits including substantial immigration, tax advantages, and the ability to retain foreign graduates. The program is now open for applications.

• The visa costs $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate sponsors.

• Foreign nationals can sign up now and secure their places on the waiting list for the Trump Platinum Card.

• Gold Card holders were taxed like US permanent residents.

• Platinum Card holders were exempt from US tax on foreign income for up to 270 days of annual presence.

[RSnake: That could be a big win for tax payers, and reduce the value in looking oversees for replacement employees.]

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/international-business/trump-unveils-1m-gold-card-visa-cost-eligibility-application-timeline-and-how-to-apply-explained/articleshow/125900386.cms

SpaceX has confirmed plans to go public with an IPO targeting a valuation of approximately $1.5 trillion, which could potentially make it the largest IPO in history. The company's growth is driven by the expansion of its Starlink service, which has seen significant customer increases and revenue projections for the coming years. As it prepares for this major financial move, SpaceX continues to lead in satellite technology and aims to secure space-based data centers.

• SpaceX is targeting a valuation of $1.5 trillion for its upcoming IPO.

• Starlink's user base has significantly increased, contributing to SpaceX's revenue growth.

• This IPO is poised to surpass the largest public listing in history, previously held by Saudi Aramco.

[RSnake: That’s a pretty insane valuation, but they are easily the leaders too, and this isn’t really a great industry to be second place in, because price per pound put into space is really the main economic driver.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/spacex-reportedly-targeting-2026-ipo-could-rival-saudi-aramcos-historic-listing

Paramount-Skydance is pursuing a $108 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, which is under scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest stemming from its ties to the Trump administration. The acquisition raises concerns about media concentration, editorial independence, and the impact on news coverage aligned with political interests, particularly regarding CNN and CBS News. Netflix is also seeking to acquire Warner Bros Discovery, but its bid has sparked concerns over competition in Hollywood, prompting antitrust scrutiny from lawmakers.

• Paramount-Skydance's acquisition could lead to increased media consolidation and editorial bias.

• Netflix's bid is raising antitrust concerns regarding competition in the entertainment industry.

[RSnake: Looking like this really will happen.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/12/11/paramounts-warner-bros-discovery-bid-faces-conflict-of-interest-concerns?traffic_source=rss

Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for defrauding investors related to the collapse of TerraUSD and Luna digital currencies, which resulted in an estimated loss of $40 billion. The court determined that Kwon misled investors about the stability of TerraUSD and engaged in actions to artificially inflate its value amidst a significant downturn in the cryptocurrency market.

• Do Kwon was convicted for orchestrating a major fraud scheme in the cryptocurrency market.

• The collapse of his digital currencies led to substantial financial losses for investors.

[RSnake: Such a huge drain. I do wish people who were pro crypto would admit that it isn’t a good long-term storage of value due to the vast number of rug pulls and scams. $40B is not a small loss.]

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgmm92d213o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss

A significant shift in the entertainment industry is underway as Disney partners with OpenAI, marking the beginning of a new era defined by AI-driven content creation. This collaboration allows for the repurposing of Disney's extensive intellectual property into AI-assisted storytelling, potentially transforming viewer perceptions of pre- and post-AI-generated content. As competition intensifies in the streaming market, the emphasis on unique content libraries becomes crucial for companies aiming to succeed in the evolving landscape of entertainment.

• Disney's partnership with OpenAI enables the use of AI in transforming its vast intellectual property for new content creation.

• The move may reshape audience perceptions of content quality, distinguishing between pre-AI and post-AI works.

[RSnake: This could be really interesting but it’s going to be even more critical to protect against illicit content, and hallucinations, if you are going to have Disney characters interacting with kids.]

Source: https://fortune.com/2025/12/11/pre-post-ai-content-disney-openai-netflix-warner-slop-analysis-ark-invest/

California imposes burdensome regulations on residents and businesses, including expensive bag fees, complex window replacement procedures, and excessive fines for minor infractions.

• A state law requires the use of paper bags instead of plastic ones, despite the inconvenience and higher cost for consumers.

• Complex regulations surrounding home renovations, including a lengthy and costly permitting process that can add up to more than the actual labor and materials.

• Excessive fines for minor infractions, such as improperly disposing of organic waste, can reach $5,000.

[RSnake: If you’re still in California, it's time to move. 😉 This is pretty similar to what China is doing, and the reasons are the same. It’s poorly managed its budgets.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/million-petty-annoyances-californias-regulatory-state

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) has cut the benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.50-3.75%, resulting in a divided 9-3 vote among members. The decision reflects a cautious approach amidst a fluctuating economic outlook, rising inflation, and mixed labor market indicators, leading to a potential adjustment in monetary policy and a plan for reserve management purchases in the near future.

• The FOMC cut the interest rate by 25 basis points, sparking a division among committee members.

• Economic indicators show mixed signals regarding the labor market and inflation, leading to cautious future monetary policies.

[RSnake: That’ll help, but it’s far from being the kinds of Interest rates we saw before the pandemic. That said, I am seeing big reductions in costs in the real estate market, which is largely due to sagging wage increases, bad interest rates, and more deportations.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fomc-33