Thursday, December 25, 2025
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Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Ukraine Says An Undersea Drone Took A Major Russian Submarine Out of Action
Ukraine says it just carried out the first-ever underwater drone strike on a Russian submarine
By Jake Epstein,
2 days ago
Ukraine said it carried out an underwater drone attack on a Russian submarine.
Security Service of Ukraine/Screengrab via Telegram
Ukraine's internal security agency said it used an underwater drone to damage a Russian submarine.
The agency described the attack as a first, potentially signaling a new chapter in drone warfare.
Ukraine has long been using naval drones to target Russian surface ships.
Ukraine carried out a first-of-its-kind attack on a Russian submarine using underwater drones, Kyiv said on Monday, revealing a new use for its explosive-packed uncrewed systems.
The Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, said it executed a "unique special operation" using an underwater drone to strike a Russian Kilo-class submarine at the Black Sea port Novorossiysk, damaging and disabling the boat.
The SBU, Ukraine's main internal security agency, disclosed that the attack involved the employment of its "Sub Sea Baby" drones, which appear to be an underwater version of the Sea Baby naval drone Ukraine uses to target Russian surface vessels and port infrastructure.
The SBU said in a statement that the submarine was equipped with four launchers for Kalibr cruise missiles, which Russia regularly fires at Ukrainian cities.
The security agency did not specify when the operation took place, but it said it was carried out in coordination with the Ukrainian navy. The SBU published footage that appears to show the moment the underwater drone impacted the submarine, causing a large explosion.
Neither Russia's defense ministry nor its US embassy immediately responded to requests for comment.
The Kilo-class submarines are diesel-electric boats that have been in service since the 1980s. Russia has dozens of active subs, which make up one of the largest submarine fleets in the world.
A Russian Kilo-class submarine on the way to the Black Sea.
OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images
The SBU said a Kilo-class submarine costs around $400 million, but the agency added that sweeping international sanctions would make it notably more costly for Russia to build a replacement.
The submarine attack marks the latest against Russia's naval force in the Black Sea. Since the start of the war, Ukraine has employed drones and missiles to damage and destroy dozens of warships and other vessels.
The asymmetrical campaign has forced Russia to relocate the bulk of its battered Black Sea Fleet from the long-held headquarters on the occupied Crimean peninsula across the region to Novorossiysk. However, Ukraine has demonstrated it can target Russian ships there as well.
The SBU said on Monday that the damaged submarine was in Novorossiysk due to the Ukrainian operations that drove the Russian Navy away from Crimea earlier in the war.
More significantly, the submarine attack appears to signal a new chapter in drone warfare. Ukraine has used naval drones, such as the Sea Baby, to strike Russian surface ships and used underwater drones to target Russia's "shadow fleet" vessels moving oil and circumventing sanctions.
However, a strike on a submarine with what has been likened to a slow-moving mine or torpedo suggests an expansion of Ukrainian capabilities.
Beyond Ukraine, Russia and NATO countries have actively developed their own underwater drone technology as militaries look to augment traditional naval capabilities with more uncrewed systems.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Monday, December 15, 2025
No Credible Evidence Supports Claims That Russian Forces Captured NATO General and Colonels
No credible evidence supports claims that Russian forces captured a NATO general and colonels (or any NATO personnel) in Afghanistan.
Current Context
NATO-led forces fully withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, ending the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Resolute Support Mission. No official NATO troops or commanders remain deployed there.
Russia maintains no active combat forces in Afghanistan and has engaged in diplomatic relations with the Taliban government since their 2021 takeover.
Such an event—if real—would constitute a major international incident and receive widespread coverage from reputable global media, NATO statements, and governments involved. No such reports exist from reliable sources.
Historical Context
During the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989), Soviet forces fought Afghan mujahideen insurgents, but NATO as an alliance was not involved in combat operations there. No records exist of Soviet captures of NATO generals or colonels in that conflict.
Similar Disinformation
Recent years (including 2025) have seen repeated false claims propagated by pro-Russian channels and fringe sites alleging Russian captures of NATO officers—typically British or French—in Ukraine, not Afghanistan. Fact-checks from outlets like Euronews, DW, France 24, and others have consistently debunked these as fabricated disinformation, often involving AI-generated images or invented names.
Some viral videos or posts (e.g., referencing locations like Huliaipole, a Ukrainian town) recycle these Ukraine-focused hoaxes, but none credibly link to Afghanistan.
If this refers to a specific post, video, or article you've seen, it is likely misinformation or a confusion/misplacement of debunked Ukraine-related propaganda. No verified incident matches the description in Afghanistan.24.7s
The US Navy Says AI Cut A 160-Hour Submarine Planning Job Down To Just 10 Minutes
The Navy says AI cut a 160-hour submarine-planning job down to just 10 minutes — now it's investing $448 million to go bigger
By Chris Panella,
4 days ago
After an initial focus on submarine shipbuilders and shipyards, the AI program will expand to surface ship programs.
US Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Heather C. Wamsley/released
The Navy's investing almost half a billion dollars on a new, Palantir-powered AI system for shipbuilding.
Ship OS sped up the workflow for submarine jobs.
This capability is starting with private and public yards and will steadily expand into other shipbuilding programs.
The Navy is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into an artificial intelligence system that it says has sped up key shipbuilding processes.
In one case, the AI cut painstaking processes of submarine schedule planning — mapping out how the many pieces of construction fit together and making sure people, parts, and yard space are available at the right time — from many hours to only minutes.
The Navy is launching the new Shipbuilding Operating System, or Ship OS, as it tries to break out of decades-old shipbuilding problems rooted in outdated technologies and work practices. The service announced a $448 million investment Thursday, saying it will accelerate the adoption of AI and autonomy across the industrial base.
The Ship OS technology is powered by Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform and began in pilot programs at submarine shipyards.
At General Dynamics Electric Boat, a long-time submarine yard located in Connecticut, submarine schedule planning saw a dramatic reduction from 160 manual hours down to under 10 minutes. And at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, material review times for submarines went from taking weeks to under an hour.
The $448 million investment will go toward the submarine industrial base and then expand. It'll be deployed across two major shipbuilders, three public yards, and 100 suppliers, Palantir said in a press release.
General Dynamics Electric Boat, a shipbuilder who tested the AI pilot, saw major decreases in time for submarine scheduling.
US Navy photo by John Narewski
"This investment provides the resources our shipbuilders, shipyards, and suppliers need to modernize their operations and succeed in meeting our nation's defense requirements," said Navy Secretary John Phelan in a statement.
"By enabling industry to adopt AI and autonomy tools at scale, we're helping the shipbuilding industry improve schedules, increase capacity, and reduce costs," he added, explaining "this is about doing business smarter and building the industrial capability our Navy and nation require."
Maritime Industrial Base Program, a Navy initiative to revitalize US shipbuilding and repair capabilities, and Naval Sea Systems Command are overseeing the implementation of Ship OS. Both are gathering data from multiple sources to identify where the hiccups are in submarine shipbuilding, how the processes, including engineering, can be sped up, and what specific risks can be mitigated through technology.
Problems in the Navy’s submarine industrial base — from shipbuilders to the repair yards — have been building for decades. Submarines are central to any Pacific fight and a top Pentagon priority, yet major programs like the upgraded Virginia-class submarines and new Columbia-class ballistic missile subs have repeatedly run into delays and cost overruns.
The Government Accountability Office, a government watchdog agency, has documented long-standing problems in the Navy's plans for purchasing and constructing submarines, as well as shipyard deficiencies such as worker inexperience, aging facilities and equipment, and inadequate construction space.
The introduction of the new Ship OS capability aims to address some of these problems facing US submarine shipbuilding. And once the technology has been used for the submarine programs, the Navy said, it'll apply lessons and adapt them to surface ship programs.
Read the original article on Business Insider
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Imprisoned Russian Nationalist Warns Of Possible Uprising and Deepening Divisions In Government
Imprisoned Russian Nationalist Warns of Possible Uprisings and Deepening Divisions in Government
6 days ago
This article contains content summarized with AI. Learn more.
video by @Kanal13AZ
An imprisoned Russian nationalist has warned that new uprisings could happen within Russia. He compared the current situation to the Wagner Group's march toward Moscow in 2023. He also criticized the Kremlin for seeking closer ties with the United States. He said this could increase Russia's economic isolation and damage relations with China.
He believes that divisions are growing within Russia's ruling elite. He blames these divisions on disagreements over foreign policy and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
European Intelligence Agencies Report Russian Sabotage Threats To Bridges and Railways
European Intelligence Agencies Report Russian Sabotage Threats to Bridges and Railways
4 days ago
This article contains content summarized with AI. Learn more.
video by @Kanal13AZ
European intelligence agencies have reported increased evidence that Russia may be preparing acts of sabotage targeting bridges and railways across Europe. According to officials, Russian operatives have examined infrastructure to find weaknesses. Some experts have raised concerns about possible mining operations and efforts to disrupt logistics and transportation networks.
Authorities see these activities as part of a broader effort to destabilize Europe. Recent arson incidents, as well as attempts to derail trains and contaminate water supplies, have been linked by officials to groups supported by Russia. NATO officials state that the alliance is maintaining a high level of alert. They warn that further incidents could pose risks to infrastructure and European security.
Russia's Vital Sizran Oil Refinery Forced To Shut Down After Devastating Strikes
Russia's vital Sizran oil refinery forced to shut down after devastating strikes
By Cheyenne R. Ubiera,
4 days ago
A key Russian oil refinery had to stop operations earlier this week after being damaged in a drone strike by Ukrainian forces.
The strike was confirmed by Ukraine's military, who said that the Dec. 5 operation was carried out to "reduce the military and economic potential of the Russian aggressor." The drones targeted the refinery's crude distillation unit, which had been previously attacked in August and required two weeks of repairs.
One source told Reuters that repairs following this most recent attack could take up to a month. The Sizran Oil Refinery is located in Samara Oblast, about 430 miles from the Ukrainian border.
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The refinery was established in 1942 and is owned by the state-owned oil company Rosneft. The refinery has an annual processing capacity of seven to 8.9 million tons of oil.
The facility was previously targeted in past drone strikes as part of Ukraine's war against the Russian oil industry.
Russian officials confirmed the strike, but details are scarce at this time
Ukraine has frequently been using homegrown long-range drones to strike Russian oil infrastructure, with government and military officials referring to these operations as Kyiv's "long-range sanctions."
The attack occurred around 2 a.m. and was accompanied by several explosions and the sounds of air defense in the southern and western parts of the city.
Footage from the attack shows flames shooting up into the night sky. Sizran Mayor Sergei Volodchenkov confirmed the strike, but didn't give further information.
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Russia's Defense Ministry claimed that it had intercepted nine Ukrainian drones over Samara. Crimean Wind, a pro-Ukrainian monitoring channel that reports on events in occupied Crimea, described the Sizran Oil Refinery as "key for the southern Volga region."
The facility serves the Samara, Saratov, and Penza regions, as well as parts of Central Russia. It has access to railway and river transport routes for domestic supply and exports through the Caspian Sea.
The refinery produces gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene, fuel oil, and bitumen, which are essential for the nearby agricultural and transportation sectors - and also supplies airfields and military units in Russia's Central and Southern districts.
Saturday, December 13, 2025
Friday, December 12, 2025
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Alleged Russian Plot for Terrorist Attack On US-Bound Flights In 2024
Alleged Russian Plot for Terrorist Attacks on US-Bound Flights in 2024
Yes, Western intelligence agencies and governments reported in late 2024 that Russia's military intelligence service (GRU) was behind a foiled plot to carry out sabotage and terrorist attacks on passenger and cargo flights bound for the United States, potentially on a scale comparable to the 9/11 attacks. The plan was attributed to President Vladimir Putin's regime as part of its hybrid warfare strategy amid the Ukraine conflict, aimed at deterring Western support for Kyiv. No attacks materialized, and the Kremlin has denied involvement.
Key Details of the Plot
Timeline: The sabotage campaign began testing in summer 2024 (notably July), with fires at international shipping hubs serving as "dry runs." Arrests of suspected operatives occurred in Poland by November 2024, and US warnings to Moscow followed in the fall.
Methods: Russian agents allegedly used incendiary devices—disguised in everyday items like modified electronic massagers containing a flammable magnesium-based substance—to ignite parcels in air cargo holds. These were shipped via commercial routes (e.g., DHL) to bypass security, targeting flights to the US and Canada. One incident nearly caused a plane crash in Germany when a parcel ignited pre-flight.
Incidents and Foiling:
Fires erupted at DHL facilities in Leipzig, Germany; Birmingham, UK; and a site in Poland—all linked to the same devices.
Four individuals were arrested in Poland and charged with sabotage or terrorism on behalf of a foreign intelligence agency (identified as Russia).
Enhanced cargo screening and intelligence sharing among NATO allies prevented escalation to actual flights.
Scale and Intent: Officials feared mid-air explosions or runway destructions could kill hundreds, marking a major escalation in Russia's asymmetric tactics against the West.
Broader Context
This fits a pattern of alleged Russian hybrid attacks in 2024, including arson, cyberattacks, and GPS jamming across Europe. In January 2025, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk publicly confirmed the plot's scope, stating Russia planned "acts of air terror" globally, not just against Poland. The US responded with direct diplomatic pressure, warning of severe retaliation if executed.
These reports come from credible outlets citing security officials, though full details remain classified. No evidence ties Putin personally to operational planning, but such actions fall under his strategic oversight.
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Monday, December 8, 2025
Sunday, December 7, 2025
China Is Impressive But Not Invincible
I came across a fascinating article last night. It was an interview with Jensen Huang. He started his work life working at a Denny's Restaurant. He took a giant risk and started NVIDIA. It is one of the giants in the technology industry. He quipped jokingly that China could build a data center in a weekend, whereas it often took three years to build the same data center in the US:
Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, recently highlighted stark differences in infrastructure development speeds between the US and China as a potential risk to America's lead in the AI race. In a late November 2025 speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), he stated: "If you want to build a data center here in the United States, from breaking ground to standing up an AI supercomputer is probably about three years." He contrasted this with China's rapid pace, adding: "They can build a hospital in a weekend."
Key Context and Implications
The Comparison: Huang used the hospital example to illustrate China's manufacturing and construction efficiency, driven by lighter regulations, cheaper energy, and a centralized approach to scaling infrastructure. While he didn't explicitly say China builds data centers in a weekend, the analogy underscores how quickly China could deploy AI-enabling facilities compared to the US's multi-year timelines, which are bogged down by permitting, environmental reviews, and supply chain issues.
Energy Factor: Huang pointed out that China generates twice as much electricity as the US—despite America's larger economy—and its capacity continues to expand rapidly, while US output has remained relatively flat. This gives China an edge in powering energy-intensive AI data centers.
Broader AI Race Concerns: Despite NVIDIA's "generations ahead" lead in AI chip technology, Huang warned that fragmented US regulations and infrastructure delays could allow China to close the gap. He emphasized the need for policy reforms to streamline energy and construction processes. Other tech leaders, like Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai and investor Kevin O'Leary, have echoed these worries, calling for reduced "red tape" to maintain US competitiveness.
This statement aligns with ongoing discussions about geopolitical tech tensions, where China's state-backed investments in AI hardware and infrastructure are accelerating, even as US export controls on advanced chips (like those from NVIDIA) aim to slow its progress.
Numerous readers have approached me, warning about the great advances that China is making. I agree with them. They even warn that China wants to destroy the US. I am going to take a risk this morning and take a contrarian position. What Chairman Xi would love to have is an agreement with the US whereby we acknowledge China as our peer and equal. We start working with them to influence the whole world. This would never happen with President Trump. If J.D. Vance or one of several serious Democratic candidates became president, this would be a serious possibility.
I have also pointed out to these concerned readers some historical parallels as follows:
1) In the early 1970s, the prestigious Hudson Institute predicted that the Soviet Union would overtake the U.S. to become the world's most powerful economy. People took them seriously. Many started to see this as being inevitable. What happened in reality is that the Soviet Union collapsed in 1989. What is left is Russia. It has an economy the size of Italy's and is described as "A gas station with nuclear weapons."
2) In the 1980s, Japan was seen as rising to be the number one economy in the world. People in the US began to dread Japan eclipsing the US to become the most powerful country in the world. The famous fiction author Tom Clancy wrote a best-selling book on this subject. Japan's ascension fizzled out. Today, Japan and the US state of California are often tied for the position of number 4 economy in the world.
3) In the 1300s-the early 1400s, China had the most powerful military machine on earth. It had warships displacing 50,000 tons with weapons technology far ahead of the West. China controlled a lot of the world. We barely missed a situation where China colonized California before Europeans did. Then there was an internal political collapse in China that stopped their progress.
Saturday, December 6, 2025
Friday, December 5, 2025
Thursday, December 4, 2025
Minnesota Welfare Fraud And Ties To Terrorism
Minnesota Welfare Fraud and Alleged Ties to Terrorism
The Minnesota welfare fraud scandals, primarily involving members of the Somali-American community, have involved schemes totaling over $1 billion in stolen taxpayer funds since around 2019. These include the high-profile Feeding Our Future case (at least $250 million in federal child nutrition funds defrauded during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 78 people charged and 59 convicted as of late 2025), explosive growth in autism services fraud (claims rising from $3 million in 2018 to $399 million in 2023), and the Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program (costs ballooning from an estimated $2.6 million annually pre-2020 to $104 million in 2023, with U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson stating the "vast majority" was fraudulent). At least 28 such scandals have been uncovered under Gov. Tim Walz's administration, per federal prosecutors.
Alleged Links to Al-Shabaab
There is no confirmed or charged amount of fraud proceeds directly funding Al-Shabaab (a U.S.-designated terrorist group affiliated with al Qaeda). Claims stem from investigative reporting and anonymous law enforcement sources, but federal and state probes (including a 2019 Minnesota Legislative Auditor report) have not substantiated direct ties, and no terrorism financing charges have been filed despite dozens of fraud convictions. Key allegations include:
Indirect Funding via Remittances: Fraudsters allegedly sent millions back to Somalia through informal hawala networks (unregulated money transfer systems). Al-Shabaab is said to tax these transfers, benefiting the group regardless of intent. A retired Seattle Police detective (Glenn Kerns) traced $20 million routed abroad in a single year via hawala, with sources claiming the group takes a cut on "every cent" sent from Minnesota's Somali community. A former Minneapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) official echoed this, calling Minnesota taxpayers "the largest funder of Al-Shabaab" through these channels.
No Specific Figure: Reports describe "millions" overall but provide no precise dollar amount reaching terrorists. Proceeds were often spent on U.S. luxuries (e.g., luxury cars, real estate) rather than overseas transfers, and Somalia's lack of formal banking complicates tracking.
Investigation Status
Federal prosecutors in Minnesota have pursued fraud aggressively but found no ideological motive—defendants were "looking to get rich," per former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger.
On December 1, 2025, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new probe into potential Al-Shabaab links, citing the scandals and ordering a review of Biden/Walz-era oversight. This overlaps with ongoing DOJ work, drawing criticism as duplicative.
Conservative outlets (e.g., City Journal by Christopher Rufo and Ryan G. Thorpe) amplified the claims, prompting political attacks on Walz, but outlets like the Minnesota Reformer label them "sloppy" and unsubstantiated.
Many victims of these schemes are Somali immigrants themselves, and experts emphasize root causes like program vulnerabilities during COVID rather than community-wide issues. For updates, monitor the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota or Treasury announcements. If you need details on specific cases, let me know!2.5s
Wednesday, December 3, 2025
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