🐜 Ants outsmart humans in maze experiment

A recent study led by a team at the Weizmann Institute of Science examines both humans and ants to test their decision-making and teamwork efficiency.

Both species were tasked with solving the so-called "piano moving problem". According to the study, result showed that ant collective intelligence increased, while human group formation did not enhance cognitive abilities.

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Russia does not consider pulling out of OSCE - Russian envoy

Russia is not considering the option of withdrawing from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Russian Permanent Representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich told Sputnik. He also pointed to the lack of legal procedures for the process.

"In the international legal sense, an organization must have a constitutive document - a charter. The OSCE does not have such a document, and there are no plans to get one in the near future," Lukashevich said.

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Terrorist attack on 'Ursa Major' - here is what we know so far:

The Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sank in the Mediterranean Sea after three explosions on the starboard side in a terrorist attack, Oboronlogistika, a company that owns the ship, told Sputnik.

More details about the incident:

🔶 The ship sank 67 miles off the coast of Spain and 45 miles off the coast of Algeria. The ship left St. Petersburg for the port of Vladivostok 12 days ago.

🔶 "During the emergency external inspection of the vessel, a hole of 50x50 cm in diameter was discovered above the waterline, the edges of the hole were torn and turned inward. The deck of the ship was strewn with fragments," Oboronlogistika said.

🔶 The Russian Foreign Ministry's crisis management center reported that 14 of the 16 crew members had been rescued, while two were missing.

🔶 According to its owner, the vessel is one of the largest bulk carriers in Russia, with a maximum carrying capacity of 9,500 tons. At the same time, the cargo weight was 806 tons.

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Estonia will not send financial aid to Syria because of ... Russia?

Estonia will not provide financial assistance to Syria if Syria keeps Russian military bases on its territory, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said.

"We must clearly understand what Syria will do, what this regime will do. For example, we do not agree to provide financial aid to Syria if Russian bases continue to remain there," Tsahkna told Estonian media.

At the same time he added that he no longer sees grounds for providing protection to Syrian refugees in Europe, and stated the need to facilitate their return to their homeland.

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🔥 Russian UAVs destroy Ukrainian tank in Zaporozhye

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of the Ukrainian tank destroyed by the masterful work of the Stavropol Airborne Troops. A first drone destroyed the trap net, allowing a second drone to destroy the tank with an incendiary munition.

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✍️Annexation dreams in Trump's Christmas letter

Canadian citizens, if their country were to join the United States, would pay 60% less in taxes, Canadian businesses would "immediately double in size," and they would enjoy US protection, promised President-elect Donald Trump.

"Likewise to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and who want the US to be there—and we will!" Trump wrote on his Truth account.

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🪖France сompletes training of Ukrainian pilots to operate Mirage 2000-5F fighters

France has completed training of Ukrainian pilots to fly Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, the French Aid to Ukraine account on the X reported.

The pilots and mechanics needed to operate these aircraft were trained at a base in Nancy.

In June, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris would transfer Mirage 2000 fighters to Kiev and would organize training for Ukrainian pilots by the end of the year. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the aircraft would be delivered in the first quarter of 2025.

Operating and maintenance costs for Ukraine will skyrocket, if it has to operate different types of NATO warplanes, military experts earlier told Sputnik commenting on Mirage fighters deliveries.

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🔹 Biden orders Pentagon to increase military aid to Ukraine

🔹 Terrorist attack on Russian cargo ship Ursa Major - here is what we know

🔹 Israel strikes media vehicle in Gaza, killing 5 journalists

🔹 Cocaine case remains unsolved as Biden leaves the White House

🔹 Trump proposes hockey legend for Canadian PM, says Canada would have 60% lower taxes as part of US

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⚡️FSB foils string of Ukraine-run assassination plots targeting high-ranking Russian defense officials

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has prevented a series of assassination attempts plotted by Ukrainian special services targeting high-ranking Russian Defense Ministry officials participating in Russia's military operation in Ukraine and their relatives.

According to the FSB:

▪️An explosive device, disguised as a charging device with magnets attached was to be planted under the service vehicle of a high-ranking executive in the Russian Defense Ministry, driven by the executive's close relative, the FSB said. The explosion itself was to be set off remotely from Ukraine's territory.

▪️A terrorist attack against another service member was plotted by Ukraine, involving two Russian citizens tasked with delivering a homemade explosive device disguised as a document folder. The device that was to be delivered, was hidden in a cache located in the Moscow region, with its coordinates supplied by a Ukrainian citizen residing in Poland.

▪️Four Russian citizens involved in the preparation of the aforementioned assassinations have been detained.

▪️A Moscow resident recruited by the Ukrainian special services to gather intelligence on the targets has been identified.

▪️Bomb components were delivered to Russia hidden in household appliances, tools, and car parts.

▪️Self-made explosives and communication devices used in criminal activities have been seized from the detained.

▪️Criminal cases have been opened, with the detainees charged with direct involvement in illicit trafficking of explosives and explosive devices, preparation of terrorist acts, and high treason.

▪️All 4 detainees face life sentences.

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🗣Russian Foreign Ministry: Number of visas issued to Americans in 2024 grew by over 30%, business visas on the rise

Main statements by the director of the Consular Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry:

▪️In the first 11 months of 2024, Russian diplomatic missions and consular offices issued a total of 7,737 visas to US citizens, including 165 business visas.

▪️In comparison, throughout all of 2023, US citizens were issued 5,694 visas, including 136 business visas.

▪️In 2024, Moscow issued over 600,000 e-visas to foreigners. The largest number of these electronic visas were granted to citizens of China, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Turkey, India, and Estonia.

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🗣Russia’s defense industry boosts output of armored vehicles and aircraft

"The production of armored vehicles and combat aircraft in Russia has increased 2.5 times, while the production of light armored vehicles has quadrupled," Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov told Russian media.

Despite restrictions, Russia's defense industry has significantly expanded its capabilities, reaching production levels that exceed those of European countries over the same period.

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