news

Another Yemeni ballistic missile attack took place against Israel in the past hours, with one hit reported, along with debris falling from the sky visible, and parts of interceptors or missile debris on the ground. This happened just after suspected US airstrikes in Yemen. Apparently the US has been using THAAD to intercept the latest barrage of Yemeni missiles, filling in the gap between Arrow 3 and Arrow, 2 after these systems failed to intercept previous missiles.

Video of apparent hit aftermath and debris in the sky

Xcancel mirror

Feel free to guess what this is, I have no idea really, I'm guessing part of a kinetic interceptor with 0% confidence

NEEEEEEWS
TALKING ABOUT NEEEEWS

US considers rule that could restrict or ban drones with Chinese tech

US President Joe Biden’s administration is considering proposing a rule to cut China out of the drone supply chain, the latest move in the escalating trade and tech decoupling between the world’s two largest economies.

...

The move came hours after Beijing announced export bans on 28 American companies, including leading manufacturers of defence systems like Raytheon, Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to an export control list to “safeguard national security and interests”.

“Acute threats” from China and Russia may “offer our adversaries the ability to remotely access and manipulate these devices, exposing sensitive US data”, the Commerce Department said in a statement.

South Korean authorities applied to the National Court for an arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk-yeol, whose functions were interrupted following a parliamentary vote in favor of his impeachment on December 14.

Esha’s twitter thread on the Carter years for the interested:

https://xcancel.com/eshaLegal/status/1874036779046826084#m

Nice summary on the principal directions of Russia’s economy in 2024:

If we talk about the economic forecast, then the coming 2025 will repeat (at least the first months) the outgoing year. More precisely, the trends laid down in 2022-2024. What and how will happen can be explained through the prism of the events of the last 12 months.

The outgoing year was remembered for the virtual confrontation between the Central Bank and the Government on the issue of what to do with the economy. Virtual, because it is not clear whether this confrontation actually took place. We heard hints (sometimes bold ones), echoes of disputes, contradictions, clashes, from which we can put together a version of events close to reality.

If there was a clash, it was of a non-ideological nature (the Central Bank and the Cabinet of Ministers are ideological twins). The contradictions of the parties were based on different goal-setting. While the Government tried to ensure at least some economic growth throughout 2024, the Central Bank fought inflation (overheated, and therefore “wrong” economic growth). Obviously, these are mutually exclusive goals.

The top management of the Central Bank regularly criticized the Government for preferential programs and budget incentives in the form of injecting trillions of rubles into the real sector. The Government, through the mouths of the most influential representatives of the real sector, loudly complained about the Central Bank's policy, due to which loans became unavailable, and production is sliding into the loss-making zone. The coming 2025 is unlikely to be different in content, since the goals of the parties remain the same for next year. According to direct and indirect data, the Government is ready to resume preferential programs and inject huge amounts of money (for example, about 4 trillion will go into the system by January). Although the Central Bank took a pause with the key rate in December, it is ready to raise it next year.

However, this is the visible part of what is happening - a facade. There is also a (fundamental) reality that is not very visible in the media. It is such that the Russian state still lives in a strong ideological contradiction with itself. When on the one hand (political) we observe declarative anti-Westernism, and on the other hand (economic) the liberal-Western ideology rules completely. In practical terms, this is expressed in the fact that the costs of developing the real (non-export-oriented) sector go along the line of irreparable losses, and the most profitable sector of the Russian economy during the war is the financial sector, which is not subject to additional taxes, and not the military-industrial complex and raw materials combined. But this is just by the way.

Всех с Новым годом!

hts appointing rogue's gallery of international moderate rebels to army posts pakistan or jordan, pakistan or jordan

Slovakia to Retaliate Against Ukraine for Cutting Off Russian Gas - Telesur English

Sports News: Tampa Bay Buccaneers score touchdown with a duck streaker on the field.

foul play: Duck is shown nutmegging the ball boy through the legs when he tried to pick it up:

https://xcancel.com/NFLonCBS/status/1873463600129728652

Duck is seen being caressed by "duck dynasty guy" off the field

https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/12/30/uprising-for-democracy-in-the-caucasus/

Another pov on georgia (of pro-color revolution variety). If one were to skip obvious obliviousness of "we are not doing color revolution, as we are decentralized" and "eu just likes democracy", some interesting tidbits for caucasian heads (if we have any)

In minor climate news, increased risks of flooding is now making the Danish government change planning laws to ban construction of new buildings in flooding-prone coastal plots. This happens in an attempt to reduce the need for expensive ditches and floodgates.

• Source: DR (state media), January 3rd 2025

An arrest warrant was issued against Edmundo Gonzales Urrutia for the following crimes: conspiracy, complicity in the use of violent acts against the Republic, usurpation of functions, money laundering, disrespect to State institutions, among others

Today’s news and combat footage from the Donbass.

Russian forces raised the national flag in Kurakhovo’s industrial zone (this Donetsk People’s Republic city is almost fully liberated, only the western outskirts remain to be cleared): https://news-pravda.com/world/2024/12/31/949265.html

Russian drone operators destroyed a German-built Leopard 1A5 tank and other Kiev regime military vehicles in the DPR: https://odysee.com/@Support4Z:b/%F0%9F%93%BD%EF%B8%8F-A-%F0%9F%87%AC%F0%9F%87%A7-%F0%9F%87%AB%F0%9F%87%B7,---Ukrainian-Leopard-1A5-tank-was-destroyed:b

Plus, the DPRK and PRC shared new year’s greetings with President Putin: https://sputnikglobe.com/20241231/north-korean-chinese-leaders-share-new-year-greetings-with-putin-1121313276.html

“Comrade Kim Jong-un wished that the New Year 2025 will be the year of victory in the war in the 21st century, when the Russian army and people will defeat neo-Nazis and achieve a great victory, and also wished Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin even greater success in the responsible and difficult work of leading the state, and the Russian people -- prosperity, well-being and happiness.” (KCNA)

“Under our strategic leadership, political mutual trust and strategic cooperation are constantly reaching a new level.” -- President Xi Jinping

Newly released combat footage from last year: https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineRussiaReport/comments/1hrqyuy/ua_pov_brutal_combat_video_filmed_last_fall_by_a/

I'm torn between telling people to watch it since its the best anti-war video to come out of this conflict, yet also if you value your mental health maybe don't watch it.

Either way, after becoming so desensitized to all the death and violence, this one might "re-sensitize" some people.

Seems like ukkkraine started their first part of offensive in kursk, couple of columns for now hit with drones, probably in next 5-10 days we'll see how much can russia fumble/not fumble the bag.

Marcus's coverage of the house speaker shit show vote is a great VIIIIIBE! Currently going to round 2 of voting

https://www.twitch.tv/struggle_4

Was feeling a bit map-brained, so I drew my predictions for the Ukraine war in 2025.

Key: 🔴= imminent. 🟠= very likely in 2025. 🟡= 25-50% chance in 2025.

This is assuming there isn't a sudden total collapse of the front line, or a surprise peace deal, but either of those things could very well happen.

I still think Russia really wants to take (or somehow demilitarize and autonomize) Mykolaiv+Odessa before the war is over, and failing to do so would be a serious geopolitical defeat for them. Though it's possible they already gave up on that goal.

Venezuelan opposition leader González Urrutia arrives in Argentina to meet Milei before Maduro's inauguration

Argentina does not recognize Maduro's re-election, as well as the United States, the European Union and some Latin American countries (Ecuador, Peru and Panama); a meeting with Milei should take place on Saturday morning (4) at the Casa Rosada.

The Venezuelan community in Argentina has been invited to gather in the central Plaza de Mayo. After the meeting with Milei, González Urrutia will travel to Montevideo to meet with Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou (The other president, the one that is going to leave office) and Foreign Minister Omar Paganini.

Brazil is sending an ambassador to Caracas for Maduro's inauguration in Venezuela. The hope is to put an end to the crisis that has lasted since the elections.

Huge Text

The Brazilian government is to send its ambassador to Caracas, Glivânia Maria de Oliveira, for the inauguration of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (United Socialist Party of Venezuela). On January 10, the Venezuelan will take the oath of office in the National Assembly for his third term, which runs from 2025 to 2031.

The government's view is that this would help to further reduce tension between the two countries, which has been escalating since Nicolás Maduro's election. The diplomatic crisis was slightly eased after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Workers' Party) said he respected Venezuelan institutions. According to Maduro, the speech was a “wise” reflection by the Workers' Party president and he added: “Point in favor of Lula”.

According to the report, Brazilian diplomacy is still waiting for a formal invitation from the Venezuelan government. The lack of such an invitation with a week to go before the inauguration, however, does not worry diplomats. Each president's inauguration around the world is carried out differently and invitations are generally made at short notice and tend to vary according to the political conditions of each government.

Brasilia's expectation is that two other partners in the region will also be represented by their ambassadors in Caracas. Colombia is represented in Venezuelan territory by Milton Rengifo Hernández, while Mexico has Ambassador Leopoldo de Gyvés de la Cruz in the Venezuelan capital.

The latest demonstrations by opponents of Maduro have had little support. The movement, however, is similar to the election period. On that occasion, María Corina and Edmundo toured several cities in the country without managing to organize massive mobilizations. Nevertheless, the day after the election was marked by violent demonstrations across the country. .

I think Lula da Silva still can't travel by airplane anyway due to his recent surgeries.