RSnake Report 20250128

Hello, and thanks for reading! We’re about to pass our first month into the year, and I hope things are going well for you and your family. We avoided the freeze here with pipes intact, so I consider that a win. Texas is so funny - it freezes once a year, but they still haven’t figured out how to build buildings that can withstand it.

Let’s begin with Ukraine/Russian news. A dramatic series of Ukrainian drone strikes hit soft targets throughout Russia. In Ryazan, a massive fireball erupted from the Rosneft Oil Refinery following a direct hit, halting operations at Russia’s largest refinery, which processes approximately 5% of the nation’s oil. The scale of the damage was captured in this footage, showing a refinery engulfed in flames, marking a significant blow to Russia's energy infrastructure.

Additional footage of the inferno and eyewitness reactions only underscores the extent of the destruction. This strike coincided with another direct hit, this time on the Kremnyi plant in Bryansk, as shown in this video. This was no isolated incident. Overnight, a reported 121 Ukrainian drones targeted regions across Russia, from Moscow and Bryansk to Rostov, Crimea, as reported. That’s a lot of oil and gas industry that is temporarily destroyed. I am certain Russia will rebuild, but that’s a huge war tax, and there’s not much countries can do about it. Soft targets will always be difficult to defend.

There is a bingo card seeing if they can attack each of the oil refineries. Of course Russia has plenty of oil reserves and can import fuel if really necessary, but the reduction in refinery capacity will hurt them a lot. As you can see, Ukraine has managed to damage or shut down around half already.

Russia’s economic strains and leadership disconnect were also on display. In a video since removed by state media, Putin appeared visibly surprised when informed of Moscow’s reported average monthly salary of 140,000–160,000 rubles ($1,425–$1,630). The reality, however, is starker: actual figures are closer to 80,000–100,000 rubles ($800–$1,000), as confirmed by job market data. The fact that the video was quickly pulled speaks loudly about the Kremlin’s concern over exposing Putin’s obvious disconnect from the economic struggles of ordinary Russians. That’s normally his big playing card - speaking to the common Russian. But he looks exactly as disconnected, disinterested, and ignorant of the problems of ordinary Moscow citizens as he is.

Ukrainian naval drones have reportedly shifted focus to maritime targets in Crimea, according to local reports, underscoring the versatility of Kyiv's tactics and also the fact that they still see Crimea as their land. These naval drones are fast, relatively inexpensive kamikaze vehicles that can drive right up to the coastline with no fear for their own safety. I think the really bad day is when these things are armed with missiles as well so that they become surface-to-surface missile trucks to soften the defenses and kamikaze vehicles in the last mile. Water-based drones become a bad day for just about any modern coastal defense.

I saw one more video/thread that I thought was a bit chilling. It’s a video of soldiers who are more commonly standing completely still when they know a drone is nearby. The idea is that humans, not unlike a T-Rex, more easily detect motion than something that is completely still. There is a reason humans evolved to fight/flight or freeze. That freeze function serves a handy biological evolutionary function - keeping you from being eaten by larger predators. And it turns out predators, like humans, spot movement easier than static targets. Not that it works in this case since many of these drones are outfitted with thermal imaging, and the camouflage is insufficient to blend in with their surroundings, along with many other problems.

Onto European news where in Tbilisi, Georgia, hackers managed to commandeer the city’s public transport payment system, turning it into an unconventional platform for protest chants and speeches supporting the ongoing Georgia Protests. Oh, hackers. 😆 Gotta love them sometimes - annoying the crap out of commuters.

Meanwhile, in Slovakia, one of the largest demonstrations in the nation’s history unfolded, with citizens rallying against the pro-Kremlin government of Robert Fico. Bad memories of Soviet occupation still run deep, as protestors of all ages turned out en mass. Footage from the event captures the scale.

In the Baltic Sea, tensions over yet another undersea fiber optic cable connecting Latvia and Sweden were severely damaged by what appears to be an external impact. Latvia's Prime Minister has called for cooperation with NATO and regional allies to investigate the incident, warning that further attacks on submarine cables could escalate unless NATO starts taking decisive action. The latest report and the fact that NATO hasn’t done anything to all these attacks is pretty telling - the frog slowly getting boiled analogy applies. 🐸 🔥 

Briefly in SouthEast Asia, North Korea’s shadowy role in global conflicts took a visible turn this week as its 122mm MLRS systems, disguised as civilian trucks, were spotted on the Kursk front in Russia. This marks the first confirmed instance of civilian-vehicle camouflaged military hardware being deployed in Russia. The footage shows that any truck-like vehicle becomes a suspected target, which is bad - civilian trucking will get targeted, and/or the missiles get to drive around with impunity.

Now onto African news, where in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the controversial Expropriation Bill into law, granting the government power to confiscate private property without compensation. As critics point out, voters who opposed expropriation without compensation now find themselves represented by a government driving it forward. I am not saying that apartheid was good, but the pendulum has far to go from equilibrium. Stories like the murder of David de Villiers, whose killer scrawled "White Devil" in blood on a wall, continue to haunt South African residents. Interviews with affected families reflect a new cycle of violence, coupled with divisive land policies.

In Middle East news, at IAV2025, Israeli company Spear UAV showcased its Viper loitering munitions system, a canister-launched UAV capable of deployment from moving vehicles. These AI-enabled drones offer real-time adaptability, marking a significant upgrade from earlier models like the Ninox 40, which were designed to fire out of 40mm grenade launchers. The Israeli Ministry of Defense has already placed orders. In many ways these are just like the most modern anti-tank mines that leap into the air, make circles until they spot something that looks like a mine and then detonate towards that, except with way more range and the ability to loiter or do reconnaissance.

I am curious if teams like this envision ways to recover the tech, though, because this surely can’t be cheap tech to lose unnecessarily. That said, I can envision a world where instead of MLRS, we have MLDS - multiple launch drone system, where an operator is tasked with operating a dozen or more drones that loiter over an area waiting for him to assume control and task them, or authorize their automatic discovery, to attempt to destroy the targets they identify. I can also envision a world where we have rockets that have a drone stage at the end instead of a warhead, allowing the insertion of smaller drones deep behind enemy lines.

Meanwhile, tensions remain high on Israel's borders. On Mount Hermon, Israel has a new watchtower on what was once Syrian territory. The new lookout serves as both a defensive position and an offensive position alike. I think it is extremely unlikely that Israel will give this territory back to Syria, given the nature of the former ISIS government. I don’t think Israel will annex it, but instead will say that that the mountain will remain militarily occupied for some indeterminant amount of time. I doubt we see ski condos being built up there anytime soon is my point.

Reports have also emerged of Israel transferring Soviet-era weapons to Ukraine, captured during its campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to sources, American planes have been seen transporting these arms, further underscoring Israel’s indirect involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is fascinating - Soviet-made weapons sold to Iran, making it’s way to Lebanon, then to Israel, then to the Americans, then to Ukraine to use again in places like Kursk, which is Russia. I doubt that was in Russia’s threat model. 😆 

On the ground, the IDF eliminated a key Hamas commander, Ihab Abu Atiwi, in Samaria shortly after he emerged from hiding to celebrate what he called a Palestinian “victory.” The strike reaffirms Israel’s zero-tolerance policy for leadership figures within Hamas in the West Bank. I know Hamas needs to spin this as a victory, but wow, that’s a lot of yarn needed to spin that campaign as a win.

U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly suggested Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza, even musing about renaming the country “Palestine” to solve the two-state solution debate. Jordan’s firm refusal reflects the enduring complexities of regional politics and the fact that despite the lip service these regional players will play, none of them want the Palestinian people in their country. Jordan does have around 3M Palestinians already out of the population of around 11.5M, so they would know best why they don’t want the rest. I really have no idea how serious Trump is about this, but it proves that they are unwanted even by their fellow Muslim population.

Briefly, in South American news, in Colombia, President Trump threatened sanctions related to the repatriation of illegal aliens. The Colombian government quickly capitulated, and President Petro said he would use his own personal plane to aid in the transport. Is this what a “real president” looks like, or will nations see this happening and band together to push back. The US carries a pretty big economic stick, but combined the world can and may decide the strong-arm tactics won’t work for too long. That said, it’s got terrible optics. Do you really want to be the nation saying we won’t take our own people back? So, if there is push-back it will likely be in other areas. Trump said he will slowly reel back the tariffs and sanctions if he sees continued progress towards the end of repatriation.

In Domestic news developments, I think it’s best if we continue talking about the deportation effort. President Trump’s hardline policies are making waves - like him or hate him; he’s on a lot of people’s minds. A newly signed executive order authorizes the deportation of non-citizens who support designated terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. To say it again, these are people who are not US citizens but also do support the destruction of the West. This controversial move has already sparked discussion about its potential impact on institutions such as Harvard and Columbia, where activists have voiced pro-Palestinian sentiments. Reports suggest this order will prompt swift action by federal agencies. The joke goes - many University Professors, who spoke loudly on campuses about destruction of the west and killing Israelis are about to be sent home.

ICE, meanwhile, has ramped up its efforts to remove criminal illegal aliens released by sanctuary cities - from a few hundred a day to around 1,500 per day. That means about half a million should be deported if there are no changes, and that is per year. If this lasts throughout his term, that’s around two million total expected, and that is the low estimate, he surely will ramp it up further. That’s a little less than 1% of the population that will be sent home in 4 years or more.

A recent Boston raid saw the arrest of what agents called the "worst of the worst." A Haitian man captured during the operation declared, “F*ck Trump, Biden forever,” before his detention. Some of these individuals have been arrested a dozen or more times and set free by prosecutors who refuse to do their job. Former ICE Director Tom Homan hinted this is just the beginning of a larger crackdown. If you estimate that there are somewhere between 10 and 30 million undocumented or illegal aliens in the US, it will need to ramp up to somewhere near 20k a day to accomplish this task within his term.

But this isn’t Pokemon, and he doesn’t need to catch them all. All Trump needs to do is show the American people he does what he says he’ll do. What I mean by that is that there was an interesting video I saw that harkened back to Obama’s presidency. Ten years ago, Obama made a speech saying he was going to deport illegal criminals and catch illegals. He said, “They’re the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican president and every single Democratic president for the past half-century.”

So why the tears now? Because Trump is doing what everyone kept saying they were going to do. The border and deportation was a bi-partisan issue - a can that kept getting kicked down the road. This is what makes Trump more dangerous and effective than most politicians around the world - he actually lives up to what he says he’ll do, for good or bad. He’s not an agent of chaos, exactly. It’s something different. Whatever it is, he’s doing something no US president has done, even if they say they will, and he’s up in the net approval ratings by 9 points by CNN’s pollsters, who are historically quite left-leaning. Stephen Smith did a good teardown on what the Democrats did wrong - they didn’t uphold their promises, and they didn’t campaign on things that actually mattered to the average voter. Now, here we are, with Trump doing exactly what he said he would do, like it or not.

Even previously radical leftists like Sam Altman are coming to heel on this, realizing that they need to tow a line that is far more centrist if they want to survive what is coming for them. Here are some especially pointed tweets (and here and here and here). I would like to state for the record, that Sam Altman admitted he doesn’t do his own thinking and falls into “npc traps”. This is the man who claims to be working on AGI - for the record. Pray for the human race and do not trust this man. 🙏 

One theory I heard is that the US could start paying illegals a small sum to leave, while at the same time paying the same size fee to Americans who turn in illegals to quickly expedite their departure without the cost associated with investigations and potentially speeding up the deportation process for many who would rather get the few dollars on the way out of the country than not. We shall see if that idea has legs.

On the southern border, the arrival of U.S. Marines adds new weight to ongoing security measures and ramped up facilities to mitigate border crossings. Footage of their deployment demonstrates the administration’s increased concern about limiting access to the United States from our bordering nations. Though one of the comments made me laugh - be very concerned about Marines being stationed so close to so many Latinas. 😆 

For my readers who carry about their rights to carry Representative Thomas Massie introduced HR 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act. Massie argued that no one should have to beg the government to exercise their Second Amendment rights, a sentiment bound to ignite debate across the aisle, no doubt. I’m of mixed mind, while the federal government should have no say at all in guns, I do tend to side with the idea of states rights, that allow states to do what they think is right for their population - the people who are talented will go wherever they find the most opportunity or find most beneficial to their way of life. Said another way, talent will dictate policy, or policy will drive away talent. But if I have to have a law, a law protecting freedoms is a good one as opposed to the atrocious new Colorado bill which bans anything semi-automatic that is going up to vote. The state will get sued and sanctioned by the courts and overruled as unconstitutional, just like all of this performative bull 💩 …. but, this is why we can’t have nice things.

DEI has been making the news a lot lately, and not in the way it used to. NASA quietly ended its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives with a scalthing internal memo circulated to employees outlined the changes. The kill-shot was, “These programs divided Americans by race, wasted taxpayer dollars, and resulted in shameful discrimination.” Here here.

Covid's origins are back in the spotlight, with even the CIA lending credibility to the lab-leak theory saying it is the most likely source, albeit with low confidence. This marks a sharp reversal from earlier dismissals of the hypothesis as “conspiracy theory” fodder. A retrospective look at media coverage shows how public opinion and institutional narratives have shifted dramatically as well as the shilling they did for the CCP. Short story, do not trust the news outlets whenever they insert opinions - except for mine, obviously. 😜 Also, shout out for the CCP for managing to drown out your culpability for years… it hasn’t gone unnoticed.

The Epstein saga continues to ensnare high-profile names. In a preemptive PR interview, Bill Gates claimed he was blackmailed by Jeffrey Epstein over an alleged affair, distancing himself from the late pedophile/trafficker/blackmailer/financier. As Pam Bondi plans to release Epstein’s client list, Gates appears to be positioning himself as a victim. But why now? Because this is the only way he thinks he can limit the blowback. I wouldn’t be surprised if some huge names with a lot of dirt are released, his being one of them. So, here comes the crocodile tears about minor offenses designed to cover up whatever actually did happen. What notably was missing was what exactly Gates was blackmailed into doing.

In Tech News, Uber made waves by pulling its advertising budget from Meta platforms—and inadvertently discovered that it changed literally nothing. By cutting ties with Meta’s ad ecosystem, the company saved a significant amount of money - $30M a year - while maintaining its user engagement, raising questions about the actual ROI of digital advertising. If that isn’t making you re-think your Meta ad spend, I have no idea what would.

Deepseek is getting increasingly scrutinized. It has been quietly amassing vast amounts of user data through its hosted platform. A post capturing its data-mining tendencies made me laugh. Those in the know are extremely wary. Those who aren’t are uploading all their details into it. Scary.

The whole thing has ignited debates over what a Chinese model would look like versus a model trained on freedom of speech/thought and, ultimately, the truth as measured by consensus. Here is an example of what I mean. In the retort about the Uyghur genocide, the word choice is really interesting, "We firmly oppose any...". Who is "We"? Normally AI doesn't take on a persona, let alone unprompted. This is a copy-paste from some censor somewhere shoved into the model. I did a whole thread on this here.

Okay, onto the articles!

China is allegedly using funding to support American environmental groups that disrupt the U.S. energy sector, which is affecting national security and economic independence. Protests led by these groups have become increasingly aggressive, impacting energy infrastructure projects and driving up costs for consumers. There are calls for Congressional action to investigate the funding sources and protect American energy initiatives.

• China allegedly finances American environmental groups to undermine U.S. energy independence.

• Aggressive protests against energy infrastructure are causing delays and increased costs.

[RSnake: So yes, you read that right - the Chinese are getting our environmentalists to get us to stop producing energy domestically. Think about it for ten seconds, and you may have a sense of why.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/01/27/green_deception_environmental_activists_serve_chinas_energy_agenda_1087288.html

In Ukraine, military actions are impacting the availability of food supplies, particularly as the region heads into winter. The conflict has turned into a struggle not only for territorial control but also for the preservation of cultural identity and values such as freedom and democracy, which are increasingly targeted by Russian forces.

• Ukrainian forces are facing deliberate attacks aimed at destroying their food supply.

• The ongoing war is also a cultural struggle to maintain Ukrainian identity against external aggressors.

[RSnake: It will be a long, cold winter in Ukraine. Even more so for Transnistria.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/opinions/2025/01/27/art-and-arms-2-aspects-of-resistance-ukraines-fight-freedom.html

The United States has paused foreign assistance programs, except for Israel and Egypt, as part of an initiative to realign aid with domestic policy interests. The suspension could have significant humanitarian implications globally, impacting vital development and health support in various regions, particularly in crisis situations like Syria and Sudan.

• The Trump administration has ordered a halt to new foreign aid programs, aligning them with the 'America First' policy.

• Experts warn that the decision could lead to severe humanitarian crises and loss of life, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

[RSnake: I get it and agree with a reduction in spending, but even with Israel, we need to be cautious we don’t get baited into regional conflicts that are difficult to unwind. I really am not a fan of having so many ships in that region. It’s just a matter of time until a golden BB hits one of them, and now we have a major escalation.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/un-chief-expresses-concern-over-trumps-freeze-on-us-foreign-aid?traffic_source=rss

Satellite images show Star of David carved into Gaza by Israeli tanks, symbolizing ownership and marking territory.

• The Israeli military has been accused of numerous violent crimes, including the killing of unarmed Palestinians and torture and sexual abuse of prisoners in its custody.

• A ceasefire on January 19 brought an end to Israel's attacks on Gaza carried out since Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

[RSnake: Soldiers are going to do dumb stuff. This is exhibit 14,151,231.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/star-of-david-google-map-gaza?traffic_source=rss

The US State Department has suspended passport applications seeking to change a sex marker or choose the gender-neutral designation X, citing President Trump's executive order that defines two sexes: male and female. The Biden administration added the X gender marker to passports in April 2022 as an alternative for non-binary and intersex individuals. The new rules will not retroactively invalidate existing passports with the X marker.

• The US State Department has suspended passport applications seeking to change a sex marker or choose the gender-neutral designation X.

• President Trump's executive order defines two sexes: male and female, which is cited as the reason for suspending the X gender marker option.

[RSnake: I did hear something amusing - that the way that executive order is written it is written as sex at conception - but everyone has female sex at conception until a while in when sex becomes developed into male or stays female. So, by that definition we are all female. I knew I felt pretty today.]

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91267584/state-department-passport-x-gender-marker-trump-rules-trans-intersex-nonbinary

The U.S. Department of Defense is facing challenges in acquiring advanced military technologies quickly enough to maintain a competitive edge over adversaries like China and Russia. There is a call for substantial reforms in the acquisitions process to foster innovation and efficiency, driven by visionary leadership and a cultural shift away from traditional procurement practices.

• The DoD struggles to deliver new technologies to troops due to a risk-averse acquisitions culture.

• Transforming the DoD acquisitions process is seen as vital for ensuring American military superiority.

[RSnake: Yep - this is an all hands on deck for reduced cost attributable/disposable weaponry that ideally can discriminate/self-target and destroy without human intervention even in EW-denied areas.]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/01/27/the_key_to_modernizing_defense_acquisitions_1087273.html

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted on rebellion charges related to his imposition of a brief martial law decree, an act that has led to significant public unrest and protests. Yoon, who has already been detained, faces severe penalties including life in prison or death, while his legal battles continue with a separate case regarding his impeachment status still pending.

• Yoon's indictment marks the first time a South Korean president has faced rebellion charges.

• Protests have escalated in Seoul, resulting in violence and injuries among police.

[RSnake: Rebellion - interesting charge. Sounds like something out of the French Neapolitan conflicts.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/27/what-expect-after-south-korean-presidents-indictment-rebellion-charges.html

An Israeli airstrike in Tulkarem killed two Hamas fighters amid ongoing military operations in the occupied West Bank, which have led to significant casualties and destruction in the region. Israeli forces have been conducting extensive raids in Jenin, resulting in numerous Palestinian deaths and the displacement of thousands due to the destruction of homes and infrastructure.

• Two Hamas fighters were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Tulkarem.

• Israeli military operations have caused significant casualties and displacement in the Jenin area.

[RSnake: I am not holding my breath that this ceasefire will be meaningful. Just saying.]

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/27/israeli-air-strike-kills-two-hamas-fighters-in-the-occupied-west-bank?traffic_source=rss

Key officials at several government agencies have been removed from their positions by executive order, leaving no independent watchdog to investigate allegations of waste and abuse. This move appears to violate federal law requiring 30-day notice to Congress. An inspector general's role is crucial in conducting audits and investigations.

• The removal of inspectors general violates federal law and leaves no independent watchdog to investigate allegations of waste and abuse.

• This move appears to be a clear violation of the law meant to crowd out waste, fraud, and abuse.

[RSnake: Things like this are a bit of a side-show. Yes, they’ll slow things down as they are fought in court, but they’ll still end up happening.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41097-dot-left-without-independent-watchdog-after-trump-fires-inspectors-general

The Belarusian presidential election resulted in Alexander Lukashenko claiming 86.8% of the vote, amidst allegations of electoral malpractice and lack of international oversight. This election has drawn condemnation from various countries and organizations due to concerns about human rights abuses and Belarus's support for Russia's actions in Ukraine.

• Lukashenko extended his rule amid accusations of conducting a 'sham' election.

• The election faced international criticism and led to calls for continued sanctions against Belarus.

[RSnake: Interestingly, it is almost one point less than Putin’s popularity numbers… because that is what Putin wants. Engineered consensus.]

Source: https://euromaidanpress.com/?p=317957

US President Donald Trump is currently making impactful statements at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where discussions focus on a shift towards more government intervention and protectionism in the global economy. The event has drawn over three thousand attendees from 130 countries, and there are mixed reactions to Trump's policies, with some seeing opportunities for growth while others express concerns over potential destabilization and a move away from established international norms.

• Trump's presence at Davos symbolizes a shift towards government intervention and protectionism in global economic policy.

• Reactions to Trump's policies at the World Economic Forum range from support among business leaders to worries about international stability and norms.

[RSnake: Not in my presentation there weren’t three thousand… maybe five or six hundred. Maybe that’s the amount who registered or showed up to one or two of the talks. But it was sparse, to say the least.]

Source: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/?p=821091

The United States is currently managing its strategic nuclear deterrent system, which includes the aging Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and plans for a new Sentinel program designed to replace them by 2038. The Sentinel program is facing significant cost overruns, leading the Air Force to restructure the project, which is critical for national security and modernization of the nuclear triad.

• The Minuteman III missile system has been operational for 60 years and remains a key component of U.S. nuclear deterrence.

• The Sentinel program is expected to address modernization needs, though it has encountered a critical cost increase.

[RSnake: It looks like the Sentinel program is really a retrofitting of the ICBMs deployed today. It’s not clear what additional capabilities they want, but I’m sure we’ll learn more over the coming months and years.]

Source: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/how-montana-community-learned-live-bomb

Tensions in the South China Sea are escalating as the U.S. considers reworking its military strategy, particularly regarding the operational capabilities of the Marine Corps. The current strategy is being criticized for jeopardizing amphibious operations and limiting the U.S. military's ability to deter China, with calls for a return to previous military structures that could enhance readiness and effectiveness in the region.

• The U.S. Marine Corps may face reduced capability to conduct amphibious operations against potential threats.

• A proposal to reconstitute Marine Expeditionary Brigades and the Maritime Prepositioned Force could enhance U.S. presence in the South China Sea.

[RSnake: We really have let our amphibious capabilities languish. We have got to start getting that capability back if we actually intend to get into a conflict in the Pacific. Alternatively, we can work with China to help them take out Russia…?]

Source: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2025/01/28/getting_the_marine_corps_back_to_the_future_in_the_south_china_sea_1087558.html

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed the country's strong alliance with the U.S. and emphasized that Greenland is not for sale, responding to President Trump's intentions to acquire it for national security reasons. The conversation between the two leaders has been described as confrontational, with Denmark's support and sacrifice in previous wars acknowledged amidst ongoing discussions about Greenland's status.

• Danish Prime Minister asserts Denmark's long-standing alliance with the U.S. amid Greenland acquisition discussions.

• Trump claims the U.S. needs Greenland for security, raising tensions over its status.

• Frederiksen confirms that the future of Greenland should be determined by its local population.

[RSnake: I can’t tell how serious Trump is about this one. It’s fun to pick a fight, and it is tons of earned media. But if the Danes arm it well enough and pay for it to be armed, isn’t that good enough? Or does Trump have a more strategic plan about mineral/oil extraction, etc…? That would explain a lot.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/27/danish-premier-reminds-us-of-strong-alliance-amid-greenland-spat.html

Swedish authorities have detained a vessel, the Vezhen, suspected of damaging an underwater fiber optic cable in the Baltic Sea, prompting a preliminary investigation into sabotage. The incident has led to cooperation between Swedish and Latvian officials, with concerns over potential external influences including Russian involvement. Maritime surveillance efforts are being enhanced in the region amidst increasing tensions related to undersea security.

• A cargo ship suspected of damaging a key data cable in the Baltic Sea has been detained by Swedish authorities.

• The event has sparked an investigation involving multiple agencies and raised suspicions of foreign interference.

[RSnake: I am sure you are shocked to discover it is a Russian vessel.]

Source: https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/27/sweden-seizes-vessel-suspected-of-sabotage-after-undersea-data-cable-rupture-baltic-sea.html

Federal authorities have disrupted a smuggling operation in Los Angeles, resulting in eight arrests and the seizure of over $130 million in counterfeit goods. This scheme involved logistics executives allegedly circumventing customs inspections to import fraudulent products from China, with an estimated total of $200 million in smuggled goods tied to the operation.

• A sophisticated smuggling operation at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach was uncovered, involving multiple parties and significant financial losses.

• Investigators seized over $1.3 billion in counterfeit goods linked to similar smuggling schemes and arrested multiple defendants facing serious charges.

[RSnake: I heard a rumor that many counterfeit operations are actually not seen as a bad thing by the big brands because if you own a fake bag, you’re going to know it and really want to save up to afford a real one.]

Source: https://gcaptain.com/?p=221216

The United States has re-designated Yemen's Houthi movement as a Foreign Terrorist Organization due to its escalating attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and against U.S. warships. This policy shift introduces stricter economic penalties for the Iran-aligned group and reflects a change in U.S. approach towards the Houthis amid ongoing regional conflicts and geopolitical tensions.

• The Houthis have launched numerous attacks on Israel and commercial vessels, increasing regional instability.

• The U.S. policy shift may exacerbate humanitarian issues in Yemen while attempting to counteract the Houthis' aggressive actions.

[RSnake: Not sure how they ever got off that list. Almost no one belongs on it more than they do - hitting civilian shipping.]

Source: https://sofrep.com/?p=212327

Spectral Capital Corporation has filed a critical patent for quantum cybersecurity to protect RSA encryption from quantum hacking, which is estimated to hold a significant share of the global $1.2 trillion RSA encryption market by 2031.

• Spectral Capital Corporation has filed a critical patent for quantum cybersecurity to protect RSA encryption from quantum hacking.

• The global RSA encryption market is estimated to hold a significant share of over $1.2 trillion by 2031.

[RSnake: This is more of a press release than an actual article, but I would like to know more about what they think they’ve done. Ultimately, you need to change the software, and if you are already in there, why not just use a better algo? The only reason I think this might make sense is if there are ASICs that already have the RSA algo burned into them that they want to reuse for cost purposes. Otherwise, begone!]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/application-security/spectral-capital-files-critical-quantum-cybersecurity-patent

A cyberattack targeted the Phemex cryptocurrency exchange, resulting in the theft of over $85 million in cryptocurrency. Following the breach, Phemex suspended all deposits and withdrawals while implementing emergency security measures and reporting to law enforcement and security firms.

• Phemex experienced a large-scale security breach that compromised its hot wallets.

• The attack is part of a broader trend of cryptocurrency thefts attributed to North Korean hackers.

[RSnake: If you haven’t checked out web3isdoinggreat you really should.]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-steal-85-million-worth-of-cryptocurrency-from-phemex/

A surge in interest in traditional values, such as tradwives and modesty, has been observed in online content and traffic at Pornhub, while the company has pulled out of several states due to age verification laws. Pornhub's choice to exit these states highlights the growing tension between online freedom and stricter regulations.

• The adult industry is facing a battle against politicians who want to eradicate porn altogether.

• A surge in interest in traditional values, such as tradwives and modesty, has been observed in online content and traffic at Pornhub.

[RSnake: Interesting - it also denotes a change of politics/mentality.]

Source: https://www.404media.co/podcast-pornhub-alexzandra-kekesi/

Cybercriminals known as 'Yahoo Boys' are using AI-generated fake news videos to blackmail victims by falsely accusing them of serious crimes. Based primarily in West Africa, these scammers create realistic multimedia content to intimidate and extort money from their targets, employing various technologies, including tutorials for creating these fraudulent videos.

• Scammers produce AI-generated videos impersonating news anchors to blackmail victims.

• The blackmail schemes have evolved to include detailed personal accusations and realistic news presentations.

[RSnake: Falsely… let’s hope! The interesting part is when they’re right, and the “victim”/criminal especially can’t tell.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/scammers-are-creating-fake-news-videos-to-blackmail-victims/

The recent shift in US administration has led to the repeal of an AI Security Executive Order, which may influence cybersecurity policies and practices. Additionally, the introduction of a new AI model by a Chinese hedge fund is causing disturbances in the security sector, raising questions about privacy and capabilities. Meanwhile, investment in cybersecurity continues to show activity with a number of companies receiving significant funding to bolster services.

• The US President's repeal of previous AI security regulations could reshape industry standards and protocols.

• The launch of a potent AI model in China has instigated concern over its potential impact on global cybersecurity.

[RSnake: Finally! This is a great move. It has far-reaching sweeping and beneficial effects on US-based AI research. Shout out to Mike Privette for spotting that one.]

Source: https://www.returnonsecurity.com/p/security-funded-178

Apple has released patches for a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2025-24085) affecting its CoreMedia framework, which may have been exploited in earlier iOS versions. The fix is included in the latest updates for various Apple operating systems, including iOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3. Users are encouraged to update their devices to mitigate potential security risks.

• A zero-day vulnerability in Apple's CoreMedia framework has been patched.

• The flaw could allow malicious applications to elevate privileges on affected devices.

[RSnake: Please patch up all your MacOS devices, especially iOS devices.]

Source: https://www.vulnu.com/p/apple-warns-iphone-users-of-exploited-ios-bug

A widespread mobile phishing campaign is targeting individuals by impersonating the US Postal Service, utilizing deceptive PDFs to steal personal and payment information. This campaign has the potential to affect organizations in over 50 countries and employs novel evasion techniques that make it difficult for security systems to detect the phishing attempts.

• Attackers are impersonating the US Postal Service in a mobile phishing campaign.

• The campaign uses malicious PDFs and advanced evasion tactics to compromise sensitive data.

[RSnake: Are people still using the post office? 😉 No, but seriously, be careful.]

Source: https://www.darkreading.com/endpoint-security/usps-impersonators-pdfs-smishing-campaign

DeepSeek has halted new signups due to a large-scale cyberattack. Microsoft is addressing issues with audio playback caused by recent Windows security updates and also rolling out new battery status features in Windows 11 along with increased advertisements for Xbox Game Pass.

• DeepSeek has stopped accepting new signups in response to a significant cyberattack.

• Microsoft's recent Windows updates are leading to audio playback issues, while also introducing new battery management features.

[RSnake: Was it a cyber attack? Was it an outage? Who knows for sure - but this is not a trustworthy organization. They have had recent meetings with the CCP and are likely funded heavily by them. I do not believe their numbers, but Nvidia’s investors do. Nvidia's stock plummeted 17%, resulting in a loss of approximately $600 billion in market value]

Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/windows-11-24h2-preview-brings-new-taskbar-features/

Companies are facing challenges and costs associated with Broadcom's management of VMware since its acquisition in November 2023. Many customers are considering moving away from VMware due to steep price increases and concerns over inadequate support, forcing them to evaluate complex migration options that could take years and incur considerable expenses.

• Broadcom's acquisition of VMware has led to substantial price hikes and forced customers to reevaluate their IT infrastructure.

• Organizations are reporting significant increases in support response times and are exploring alternatives to VMware due to dissatisfaction with Broadcom's service.

[RSnake: There are cheaper alternatives. Running an entire VM is pretty wasteful for most applications, when you can use a slice of the kernel for that operation - like Docker or chrooted jails, or moving to serverless compute, etc.]

Source: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2025/01/a-long-costly-road-ahead-for-customers-abandoning-broadcoms-vmware/

Research in robotics is advancing, focusing on enhancing robots' perception to be more human-like. This effort involves integrating cognitive reasoning with perception, aimed at allowing robots to understand and interact with their environments similarly to humans.

• Robots are being developed to improve their perception of the environment, allowing for more intricate and intuitive interactions with humans.

• Researchers are exploring the integration of deep learning and large language models to create more advanced spatial AI for robotics.

[RSnake: Giving it human embodied senses will help, yes.]

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2025/expanding-robot-perception-luca-carlone-0128

Elon Musk's AI company xAI is reportedly close to releasing its next flagship AI model, Grok 3. Early testers have achieved impressive capabilities in logical reasoning and coding, although some errors remain, and the model has generated attention for its controversial responses and potential political biases.

• Grok 3 is nearing release and built using a significantly larger computational capacity than its predecessor.

• The model has demonstrated advanced capabilities but has also shown potential for producing biased or objectionable content.

[RSnake: I wonder if they’ll want to launch with Deepseek out there - it may not go over well. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if we see a delay while they re-evaluate the model.]

Source: https://techcrunch.com/?p=2953612

Sam Altman's startup World, which uses iris scans for online identity verification, has been banned from compensating individuals for participating in the scanning process by Brazilian authorities. World has faced scrutiny and regulatory challenges in several countries over concerns related to biometric data privacy.

• World utilizes iris scans for identity verification in a digital ID system.

• The company has been banned in Brazil from compensating individuals for iris scans due to privacy concerns.

[RSnake: It’s not like this data isn’t already available to the government. They do say they remove the data. I personally would be shocked if the NSA didn’t keep a copy for funsies.]

Source: https://gizmodo.com/?p=2000555254

The Global Data Center Colocation Market is projected to grow from $60.62 billion in 2023 to $133.34 billion by 2029, primarily driven by the increasing demand for cloud services and digital transformation. The market is influenced by factors such as the need for scalable infrastructure, cost-efficiency, and sustainability initiatives, with significant growth seen in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector, especially in North America due to its mature IT infrastructure and regulatory framework.

• The Data Center Colocation Market is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.87%.

• Sustainability and the need for energy-efficient practices are becoming increasingly important in the colocation industry.

[RSnake: Yup - a good time to be in the data center and power market. Roughly, I am estimating $1TN to $2TN in AI investment over the next few years, and most of that is in hardware and infrastructure.]

Source: https://thereadable.co/133-34-bn-data-center-colocation-market-global-industry-trends-opportunities-and-forecasts-to-2029-researchandmarkets-com/

HII has completed the acquisition of W International, a manufacturer of submarine construction modules, to enhance its shipbuilding capacity. This acquisition allows HII to increase its manufacturing capabilities and workforce as it aims to meet rising demands from the Navy and AUKUS.

• HII acquires W International to improve shipbuilding capacity.

• The acquisition will create hundreds of jobs and expand manufacturing space.

[RSnake: Never heard of this company, but they look like they’ll become a big player.]

Source: https://news.usni.org/?p=114358

An investment firm has acquired a minor stake in U.S. Steel and is working to halt a proposed $15 billion sale to Nippon Steel, citing concerns about the company's leadership and its future. The U.S. government has extended the deadline for deciding on the deal, amid political opposition from figures like President Trump who advocate for strengthening domestic manufacturing.

• An investment firm aims to cancel a significant sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel.

• Political figures express opposition to foreign ownership of major U.S. steel interests.

[RSnake: I kinda thought this deal was done and dusted, but maybe not.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41098-investment-firm-launches-bid-to-nix-us-steel-sale

Amazon has announced the closure of its warehouses and delivery hubs in Quebec, resulting in over 1,700 job losses and the outsourcing of operations to third-party contractors. This decision has prompted a response from the Canadian government, expressing disappointment and indicating a possible review of the business relationship with Amazon.

• Amazon is cutting over 1,700 jobs and outsourcing operations due to cost-cutting measures.

• The Canadian government is considering a review of its business relationship with Amazon in light of these layoffs.

[RSnake: Wow - that sucks if you live there. Amazon has become a fixture for many people. I wonder how the communities will react.]

Source: https://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/41095-canada-to-review-business-ties-with-amazon-over-quebec-cuts

Automakers are facing new regulations that require the implementation of advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems in vehicles to enhance road safety and reduce fatalities. Despite the technology being available, major car manufacturers are resisting the regulation due to cost concerns, which raises questions about the industry's commitment to public safety. The regulation aims to address the high rate of car crash deaths in the U.S., which is significantly higher than in other wealthy countries.

• Advanced automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems are required under new U.S. regulations to reduce car crash fatalities.

• Automakers are resisting the implementation due to cost concerns despite the technology already being available.

[RSnake: I think the real answer is automation. Imagine a vehicle that needs none of that stuff and what it might look like.]

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/emergency-braking-will-save-lives-automakers-want-to-charge-extra-for-it/