Christian Thiels

Have a stellar Saturday everybody - and may we introduce our current house guest? He (or she?) has to gain some weight before release into an already nearly finished hedgehog cottage to start hibernation.
[📷Nikon D850 f/5,6 1/30 102mm ISO 8000]

China & Taiwan Update November 21, 2025
@thestudyofwar.bsky.social
understandingwar.org/research/chi...

Very interesting

US-Philippine task force to reestablish South China Sea ‘deterrence’ The U.S. and the Philippines announce a joint task force to deter what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth calls Beijing’s “coercion” in the South China Sea.

"The United States and the Philippines have announced the creation of a joint task force aimed at further deterring what U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Beijing’s 'coercion' in the South China Sea."
@defensenews.bsky.social
www.defensenews.com/global/asia-...

Russian shipyard nears collapse amid defense industry crisis Yaroslavl Shipbuilding Plant employees say they have not received salaries for nearly two months, citing unpaid military orders and stalled production, according to Ukrainian outlet Ekonomichna Pravda...

"Yaroslavl Shipbuilding Plant employees say they have not received salaries for nearly two months, citing unpaid military orders and stalled production, according to Ukrainian outlet Ekonomichna Pravda."
@defence-blog.com
defence-blog.com/russian-ship...

Russian hacking suspect wanted by the FBI arrested on Thai resort island Thai Police have arrested a suspected Russian hacker who is wanted by the FBI for alleged cyberattacks on U.S. and European government agencies.

"Police have arrested a suspected Russian hacker on the Thai resort island of Phuket who was wanted by the FBI on allegations he was behind cyberattacks on U.S. and European government agencies, officials said."
@npr.org
www.npr.org/2025/11/21/g...

Adversary Entente Cooperation at Russia’s Shahed Factory Threatens Global Security
@thestudyofwar.bsky.social
understandingwar.org/research/adv...

So ist es. Wen man sich in die m.E. nicht ganz so intuitive Bedienung eingefuchst hat, geht das eigentlich alles ganz gut. Und die connect-App ist echt großartig. Fehlte nur, dass die einem die Fußtemperatur im Jahresverlauf auswertet 😉

Result of a one-week-trial and today's workout: my nearly new (refurbished) Garmin GPS-watch is working pretty good, but actually not significantly more precise than smartphone with the Nike+ app - although easier to handle and to wear of course. #running #teamrunning #laufen #teamlaufen

Prima. Langsam wieder aufbauen und dann konstant weiter. 👍

Es könnte das Alter sein. Just saying. Aber ich drück die Daumen!

Germany pledges €1 billion to Brazil's rainforest fund – DW – 11/20/2025 Germany’s support for Brazil’s new rainforest protection fund adds momentum to a global effort that will reward forest conservation, penalize deforestation and direct resources to Indigenous and tradi...

ICYMI: "Germany has committed to contributing €1 billion ($1.15 billion) over the next decade to Brazil’s new global rainforest fund." DW www.dw.com/en/germany-p...

Cop30: dozens of countries threaten to block resolution unless it contains roadmap to fossil fuel phase-out Exclusive: The Guardian understands Brazil had been planning to drop a roadmap to a transition away from fossil fuels amid opposition from petro states

"Countries supporting a phase-out of fossil fuels at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil have threatened to block any agreement that does not include such a commitment, in a significant escalation of tensions at the crunch talks, @theguardian.com can reveal."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

ICYMI

Still a 'working document': Ukraine would give Russia chunk of territory under 28-point US plan A leaked draft peace plan backed by President Donald Trump outlines sweeping concessions to Russia in exchange for new security guarantees for Ukraine.

"Ukraine would give up a swathe of eastern territory to Russia and slash the size of its army under a sweeping 28-point peace plan backed by US President Donald Trump, according to a draft obtained by @en.afp.com"
today.rtl.lu/news/world/a...

November 20, 2025 Ukraine
Situation report - @thestudyofwar.bsky.social and @criticalthreats.bsky.social
understandingwar.org/research/rus...

Americans like democracy, but don't believe it or US institutions are working well, poll finds A Kettering Foundation-Gallup poll finds that about half of U.S. adults believe democracy is functioning “very” or “moderately” poorly in the United States, while only around one-quarter think it’s do...

"About half of American adults believe democracy is functioning 'very' or 'moderately' poorly in the United States, while only about one-quarter think it’s doing 'very' or 'moderately' well, according to a poll."
@apnews.com
apnews.com/article/us-d...

Iran Update, November 20, 2025
@thestudyofwar.bsky.social
understandingwar.org/research/mid...

North Korean operatives running fake job portal targeting US AI firms | CNN Politics North Korean operatives created a fake job-application platform targeting applicants to major US artificial intelligence and crypto firms as part of a new effort to steal money and know-how for the Ki...

"North Korean operatives created a fake job-application platform targeting applicants to major US artificial intelligence and crypto firms as part of a new effort to steal money and know-how for the Kim Jong Un regime, researchers said on Thursday."
@cnn.com
edition.cnn.com/2025/11/20/p...

Elisabeth Cohen-Duits, your name, your face, your fate will never be forgotten. May your memory be a blessing. 🕯️

Russian Occupation Update, November 20, 2025
@thestudyofwar.bsky.social
understandingwar.org/research/rus...

Good morning to another fabulous #Foxfriday! As November seems pretty dull and grey sometimes, here's a file photo of one of our #Foxfriends in our garden last June [📷Nikon D850 f/5,6 1/125 120mm ISO 5000] #foxoftheday

KNDS unveils the Leopard 2A8, first new battle tank build since 1992 Order books for the new variant are filling up, with Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Norway all planning to use the latest Leopard.

"The German army is slated to get 123 of the behemoths weighing nearly 70 metrics ton, with deliveries beginning in 2027 and to be finalized in 2030."
@defensenews.bsky.social
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Ukraine: US-Russian peace proposal is ‘absurd’ and unacceptable Officials say proposal is aimed at stirring up division and disorientating Kyiv’s allies

"A new US-Russian peace proposal to end the war in Ukraine has been dismissed as 'absurd' and unacceptable by officials in Kyiv amid talks between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a high-ranking US army delegation."
@theguardian.com
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

They really are, right?

The clouds in the sky over Berlin are really offering a spectacular November show tonight. Have a great evening everybody.

Ukraine Scaling Up Production of Anti-Drone Rounds - Militarnyi Ministry of Defense has already codified this type of ammunition from several Ukrainian manufacturers and that they are ready for large-scale output.

"Several Ukrainian defense companies are preparing to launch mass production of anti-drone rounds. (...) The rounds are intended to help Ukrainian forces counter small enemy drones more effectively."
@militarnyi.com
militarnyi.com/en/news/ukra...

Beautifully captured, Kilian. Thanks for sharing!

People arrive for the quarterly board of governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, November 19, 2025. REUTERS/Elisabeth Mandl

"The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution on Thursday saying Iran must inform it 'without delay' of the status of its enriched uranium stock and bombed atomic sites, diplomats at the closed-door meeting said."
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/middle...