news

In some huge news we \have footage of what probably is the maiden flight of China's 6th Generation manned fighter/bomber aircraft, and the first one of its kind that has been caught on camera (unclear if the US has even flown a working prototype of their current design, whatever that might be after a dozen requirement revisions). Flown on the birthday of the great helmsman, Mao Zedong no less. (links at the end)

One of the most (only) credible PLA watchers in western circles is posting about it (RickJoe_PLA on twitter, PLARealTalk on reddit) so its most likely legit. The obvious implication here is that China has overtaken the US in terms of next-gen airframe development. This publically flew before NGAD or F/A-XX (US) the status of which is very unclear, and you can argue that this is proof that China now holds the lead in next-gen R&D. For reference F-35, F-22 (US) , Su-57 (Russia), J-20 and J-35(China) are the only 5th Gen platforms around. Based on past timetables an optimistic guess is that this might enter service in 2029-31

Copying some of the stuff posted around. It is seen flown alongside a J-20S as a chaseplane. Not an expert but ppl seem to notice it to be 3 engined, quite big and thin relative to size. J-20 is already decently voluminous as fighters go , but the "J-XD" alongside looks like it's a whole other level. Even with three engines, this thing will have a lot of internal volume to play around with, whatever its role might be.

https://x.com/RickJoe_PLA/status/1872197785040359930

https://x.com/Rational314159/status/1872198848455815332

https://x.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1872210704914366565

https://x.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1872207504807272541

https://x.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1872202725439778856

EDIT: Unconfirmed as of right now, but it seems like Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (They developed the j-35, Chengdu AC developed the j-20 and the 6th Gen this post is about. Both practicaly different divisions under state owned umbrella company AVIC) might have also flown something similar this week. Likely a second distinct 6th Gen platform on a similar stage of development!!

Some news for today from Russia’s special military operation.

A report revealed that Ukrainians set on fire 341 Kiev regime military officials’ cars this year (mostly belonging to those involved in conscription): https://tass.com/world/1894691

Russian forces recently eliminated four Colombian mercenaries and one right-wing Venezuelan: https://news-pravda.com/russia/2024/12/28/945280.html

Russian forces recently conducted a FAB-3000 strike on a Kiev regime position in Volchansk’s industrial district (in northern Kharkov oblast): https://news-pravda.com/world/2024/12/28/945272.html

Russian cruise missiles struck the Kiev regime’s Pridneprovskaya thermal power plant in Dnepropetrovsk: https://s5.cdnstatic.space/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DniproTPP.mp4?_=2

https://xcancel.com/MenchOsint/status/1871946832601084300

Brave ansar allah drone exploded a transformer

Here's my last post about the protest in Serbia since the thread got locked

@Eldungeon2@hexbear.net They were coopted in years past by the neolib opposition, but this one is the initiative of the students, so the likelihood of it happening is pretty slim (at least not by the opposition). Also, as far as I'm aware, occupy was just camping on wall street, not literally obstructing government institutions from working like it's happening here.

@starkillerfish@hexbear.net I'll probably do a write-up when I get my bearings in order. As for the universities, I don't think it makes a difference as long as there exists a mechanism by which students can legally organize and close it down in protest.

What I forgot to mention is that the protest was attended by some 100k people, one of the largest in Serbia ever. Oh, and here's eurofucks getting what they deserve

A little news for today from the Donbass, Kharkov oblast, and Georgia.

Russian forces liberated the Kharkov oblast settlement of Zagryzovo and the DPR settlement of Ivanovka: https://sputnikglobe.com/20241227/russian-forces-liberate-two-key-settlements-in-donetsk-and-kharkov-region---mod-1121281819.html

Russian forces are encircling the Kiev regime troops still occupying Velikaya Novosyolka, in the western DPR (some combat footage and a map included): https://southfront.press/russian-army-cut-off-all-supply-routes-to-velyka-novosyolka-vremyivka-direction-south-eastern-ukraine/

A new Russian self-propelled howitzer can strike targets at distances over 50 kilometers (video): https://news-pravda.com/world/2024/12/27/943838.html

Georgian communists and socialists rallied in Gori to commemorate Stalin’s birthday and oppose the Western coup attempt targeting their country (link includes pictures of the rally): https://en.news-front.su/2024/12/24/the-memory-of-stalin-is-strong-in-todays-georgia/

GOAT is washed 💔💔💔

https://archive.is/WjBbA(from FT)

Defaults on leveraged loans soar to highest in 4 years

US companies are defaulting on junk loans at the fastest rate in four years, as they struggle to refinance a wave of cheap borrowing that followed the Covid pandemic. Defaults in the global leveraged loan market — the bulk of which is in the US — picked up to 7.2 per cent in the 12 months to October, as high interest rates took their toll on heavily indebted businesses, according to a report from Moody’s. That is the highest rate since the end of 2020.

The rise in companies struggling to repay loans contrasts with a much more modest rise in defaults in the high-yield bond market, highlighting how many of the riskier borrowers in corporate America have gravitated towards the fast-growing loan market.

Because leveraged loans — high yield bank loans that have been sold on to other investors — have floating interest rates, many of those companies that took on debt when rates were ultra low during the pandemic have struggled under high borrowing costs in recent years. Many are now showing signs of pain even as the Federal Reserve brings rates back down. “There was a lot of issuance in the low interest rate environment and the high rate stress needed time to surface,” said David Mechlin, credit portfolio manager at UBS Asset Management. “This [default trend] could continue into 2025.”

Punitive borrowing costs, together with lighter covenants, are leading borrowers to seek other ways to extend this debt. In the US, default rates on junk loans have soared to decade highs, according to Moody’s data. The prospect of rates staying higher for longer — the Federal Reserve last week signalled a slower pace of easing next year — could keep upward pressure on default rates, say analysts.

Many of these defaults have involved so-called distressed loan exchanges. In such deals, loan terms are changed and maturities extended as a way of enabling a borrower to avoid bankruptcy, but investors are paid back less.

Such deals account for more than half of defaults this year, a historical high, according to Ruth Yang, head of private market analytics at S&P Global Ratings. “When [a debt exchange] impairs the lender it really counts as a default,” she said.

“A number of the lower rated loan-only companies that could not tap public or private markets had to restructure their debt in 2024, resulting in higher loan default rates than those of high-yield bonds,” Moody’s wrote in its report. Portfolio managers worry that these higher default rates are the result of changes in the leveraged loan market in recent years. “We’ve had a decade of uncapped growth in the leveraged loan market,” said Mike Scott, a senior high yield fund manager at Man Group. Many of the new borrowers in sectors such as healthcare and software were relatively light on assets, meaning that investors were likely to recover a smaller slice of their outlay in the event of a default, he added.

“[There has been] a wicked combination of a lack of growth and a lack of assets to recover,” thinks Justin McGowan, corporate credit partner at Cheyne Capital. Despite the rise in defaults, spreads in the high-yield bond market are historically tight, the least since 2007 according to Ice BofA data, in a sign of investors’ appetite for yield. “Where the market is now, we are pricing in exuberance,” said Scott.

Still, some fund managers think the spike in default rates will be shortlived, given that Fed rates are now falling. The US central bank cut its benchmark rate this month for the third meeting in a row. Brian Barnhurst, global head of credit research at PGIM, said lower borrowing costs should bring relief to companies that had borrowed in the loan or high-yield bond markets.

Jay Powell speaks at a press conference “We don’t see a pick-up in defaults across either asset class,” he said. “To be honest, that relationship [between leveraged loans and high-yield bond default rates] diverged probably in late 2023.”

But others worry that distressed exchanges hint at underlying stresses and only put off problems until a later date. “[It’s] all well and good kicking the can down the road when that road goes downhill,” noted Duncan Sankey, head of credit research at Cheyne, referring to when conditions were more favourable for borrowers. Some analysts blame loosening credit restrictions in loan documentation in recent years for allowing an increase in distressed exchanges that hurt lenders. “You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Weakened [documentation] quality has really changed the landscape, in favour of the borrower,” said S&P’s Yang.

A final news post for today, this time with some news from Russia’s special military operation.

Russian forces liberated the small DPR settlement of Gigant: https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/russian-forces-take-control-of-gigant-settlement-in-dpr---mod-1121274112.html

Russian forces shot down a US-built F-16 warplane as it attempted launching missiles at the liberated parts of Zaporozhye oblast: https://www.rt.com/russia/610032-russia-shot-down-f16/

Another report revealed that Ukrainian men continue fleeing the country – they do not want to die for the corrupt Maidan dictatorship: https://sputnikglobe.com/20241226/ukrainians-do-not-want-to-defend-incumbent-govt-calling-country-prison---reports-1121270932.html

In the last month of the year, the Russian government is pouring huge amounts of money into the economy. There are settlements under government contracts, advance payments for new government contracts, and much more.

The scale of spending can be imagined using 2023 as an example. Exactly one year ago, at the beginning of December, the federal treasury held 13.2 trillion rubles of government funds in bank accounts. During December, government funds decreased by 2.6 trillion. Slightly less was spent through off-budget sources. How much can be judged by the growth of the money supply.

In December 2023, the M2 aggregate grew by a record 5.83 trillion! Subtract 1.4-1.5 trillion in loans, and you get more than 4 trillion rubles. As of December 1, 2024, the Treasury holds almost 14 trillion in bank accounts. Most likely, no less than last year will go into the system, and taking into account inflation, even more. About 3-4 trillion. Plus off-budget. We will see specific figures in January.

The government fights back against the central bank’s monetary austerity. It’s better late than never. The central bank will, predictably, raises key rate early next year because “spending more money into the economy means more inflation”.

A tug of war situation where we will have to see if the government will run out of money to spend first (since they don’t control the money printer) or if the central bank’s key rate will lose its efficacy first?

This is a war of attrition between the industrial and finance capital within Russia that has been going on for more than two years.

Several countries expressed their condolences for the plane crash in Kazakhstan, among them Russian President Vladimir Putin and leaders of Venezuela and Iran.

Post from a Syrian Christian telegram regarding backlash to the mass protests

https://streamable.com/16dr1r

“🇸🇾 - "Homs for Sunnis, Alawites out!"

Sectarian protests begin in Homs. This is a prelude for something much uglier. Al Sharaa also personally called for the targeting of Alawite villages several times in recorded speeches, yet we're supposed to be silent in the face of "isolated incidents".

After the Alawites, they're going to go after us.”

https://t.me/syrianchristian/420

Following up to my previous comment regarding the chinese 6th Generation fighter/aircraft test flight footage that emerged today it seems increasingly likely that China has indeed flown what seems to be a second, distinct 6th Generation platform earlier this week. Specificaly Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (They developed the j-35, Chengdu AC developed the j-20 and the 6th Gen aircract my previous post was about. Both practicaly different divisions under state owned umbrella company AVIC) apparently flew on the 22th what some speculate might be prototype for a 6th gen 2-engine (maybe naval fighter?)

https://x.com/OedoSoldier/status/1872296926412173656

https://x.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1872290715851698484

Not a great day for the pentagon

Wake up babe new MH17 with KAL007 characteristics just dropped

(CW: Torygraph) Azerbaijan Airlines crash sparks speculation plane ‘accidentally shot down by Russia’

An Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on Christmas Day has prompted speculation the plane was shot down by Russia after it took a detour of hundreds of miles in the wrong direction and crash-landed with holes in the fuselage.

The incident, which killed at least 38 people and injured a further 29, took place after a significant detour, which could have been caused by GPS jamming.

It was flying from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan to Grozny, the capital of Chechnya in the north Caucasus.

Vladimir Putin’s forces have militarised the area the plane was flying over, on a detour that had not been planned by the airline.

Henceforth will be referring to all US military elements as “Joseph Biden’s forces”

Buried this tidbit quite a ways under the headline:

The plane was attempting to land at a Russian airport in Grozny, which at the time of landing was under attack by Ukrainian drones.

Rybar, an influential Telegram channel with 1.3 million subscribers, also confirmed Baza’s description, saying the damage to the fuselage resembles “striking elements of an anti-aircraft missile”.

He continued: “The plane itself was heading to Grozny - at that time, a raid by launched Ukrainian UAVs was actually being repelled over the region. Several drones were shot down over Vladikavkaz in North Ossetia and neighboring Ingushetia.”

GPS jamming being the culprit would be bizarre, considering GPS jamming is to be expected on such routes and would be immediately detected. In any case it should be a non-event for any commercial airliner as they would simply switch the nav system to INS-only.

If any GPS shenanigans are involved, spoofing would seem much more likely. The navigation system operates with inertial navigational information updated with radio beacons and GPS information. This is the only conceivable scenario where a gross navigational error would’ve gone undetected by the crew.

It’s not the 80s anymore. Cockpits have graphical displays of aircraft position, and a sudden jump across the world should immediately result in disregarding any GPS information.

A key difference from KAL007 is that this flight was well within radar range and this ATC would’ve had independent position information. How could they possibly not have noticed this “unplanned detour in the wrong direction”? We live in an age where any deviation from the planned route should sound an automated alarm. Not to mention, if you are hundreds of miles off course, you likely wouldn’t even be able to contact the appropriate controller on the VHF frequency. Being that far off course without realizing it is almost completely inconceivable anywhere other than over the Pacific Ocean, and even that would require deliberate and targeted GPS spoofing. I fly transpacific routes all the time - the position is regularly checked. The circumstances that allowed KAL007 to happen, the official version anyway, simply no longer exist.

Per the cradle, the Syrian ministry of interior announced 24 regime casualties with 14 dead after an ambush near tartous, presumably by SAA remnants

https://t.me/thecradlemedia/27206

During Carter's presidency, the U.S. continued to support Indonesia as a cold war ally, despite human rights violations in East Timor. The violations followed Indonesia's December 1975 invasion and occupation of East Timor. Under Carter's administration military assistance to Indonesia increased, peaking in 1978. This was antithetical to Carter's stated policy of "not selling weapons if it would exacerbate a potential conflict in a region of the world".

The Indonesian invasion of East Timor, known in Indonesia as Operation Lotus (Indonesian: Operasi Seroja), began on 7 December 1975 when the Indonesian military (ABRI/TNI) invaded East Timor under the pretext of anti-colonialism and anti-communism to overthrow the Fretilin regime that had emerged in 1974. The overthrow of the popular and short-lived Fretilin-led government sparked a violent quarter-century occupation in which approximately 100,000–180,000 soldiers and civilians are estimated to have been killed or starved to death.

In 5 months time when putin catches taurus to the dome during victory parade:

this devious provocation from kiev regime will not go unanswered, we are preparing new documents for the un to review

Some news (and a little combat footage) from occupied Palestine and Yemen.

Palestinian resistance movements have released more recent combat footage showing sniper, IED, and RPG strikes on Zionist occupation forces in northern Gaza: https://southfront.press/israel-stands-firm-on-gaza-despite-taking-more-losses/

A Zionist genocidal airstrike massacred five Palestinian Al-Quds Today journalists near the Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp: https://www.rt.com/news/609967-journalists-killed-gaza-israel-strike/

Zionist warplanes attacked Yemen’s Sana’a International Airport; the Ras Kanatib power plant; and the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports. The attacks killed four civilians: https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/12/26/739783/Israel-launches-airstrikes-Yemen

https://tass.com/world/1894097

Biggest banks sue the Federal Reserve over annual stress tests

https://xcancel.com/RTSG_News/status/1872735726187757724#m

Leader of Russian Communist Party meets with American Communist Party member Jackson Hinkle

mason @freeflowin7739 Dec 28 Replying to @RTSG_News He didn’t even look into @jacksonhinklle eyes while he was speaking to him. Jackson was begging for his eye attention. What a fuckin shame