F-16s Scrambled to Intercept “Potential Drone” Near Andrews Air Force Base
January 31st, 2025Via: The Warzone:
A C-32A VIP transport jet on a special air mission (SAM) had to delay landing at Joint Base Andrews on Saturday because two U.S. Air National Guard F-16C Vipers and a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 helicopter were scrambled to intercept a “potential drone” flying near the capital region, according to Air Traffic Control (ATC) audio posted online the internet. The object was observed over Freeway Airport located about 10 miles north of Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, according to that audio. The incident began around 8:30 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday.
The C-32A was using callsign SAM47, which makes it clear neither POTUS nor VPOTUS were on board, although it was likely operating in support of the President’s movements to the West Coast.
…
“Just be advised that we have an active scramble about 10 miles north of Andrews and just waiting on the jet to depart there … active intercept so that is the reason for the delay vector,” the ATC operator explained.
The ATC operator told the Coast Guard helicopter, callsign BLACKJACK01 and one of the F-16s, callsign BRAVE01, that the target of interest (TOI) was “a potential drone [flying at an altitude of] between 5,000 and 6,000” feet. A second Viper, callsign BRAVE02, was also launched to track down the potential drone.
“BLACKJACK01, the TOI is now off about one to two o’clock, four miles south,” the ATC operator told the helicopter, guiding it toward the target. “It looks like it is in the vicinity of Freeway Aiport,” a privately owned airport in Mitchellville, Maryland.
Several minutes later, ATC asked if BLACKJACK01 had intercepted the TOI.
“Negative for BLACKJACK01, negative.” the helicopter responded before being given further guidance from ATC.
“BRAVE01, turn right heading 320 last known radar ping was northwest of your position at six miles,” ATC told the Viper’s pilot.
“BLACKJACK01, navigation is approved and just be advised I’m not showing a target anymore,” ATC told the helicopter a few minutes later. “No more TOI.”
U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter Collides Midair with American Airlines Jet Near Near Reagan Washington National Airport
January 29th, 2025Update: More Video Emerges
Two new videos obtained by CNN show new angles on Wednesday night’s midair collision above Washington DC.
In the videos both aircraft can clearly be seen flying towards each other, then exploding and falling into the river after the fatal explosion. pic.twitter.com/W89o5387fp
— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) January 31, 2025
—
Update: Continuity of Government Training Mission
Via: The Warzone:
The crew of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in a mid-air collision over the Potomac River last night were training for what is known as a continuity of government mission. In the event of a major attack or other especially serious crisis, Army helicopters would be among the assets tasked with spiriting senior U.S. officials and lawmakers safely out of Washington, D.C. at a moment’s notice so that critical aspects of the country’s government continue to function.
—
Nothing makes sense here. How did the Blackhawk pilot not see the jet with its landing lights on?
Note: If you go looking for information on x.com, please be aware that X is amplifying posts with made-up information on this incident.
Via: Fox:
A massive search and rescue effort is underway after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines jet at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on Wednesday evening.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet collided in midair with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to Runway 33 at Reagan National Airport around 9 p.m. local time.
White House Claims New Jersey Drones, “Flown by the FAA for Research and Various Other Reasons”
January 29th, 2025Ha. What a load of bollocks.
If the drones belonged to the FAA, why didn’t the agency admit it weeks ago?
Via: ZeroHedge:
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided much-needed transparency regarding the “dronegate” incident that sparked nationwide concerns over potential threats from China and Russia.
In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Leavitt said the drones spotted over New Jersey and New York in December had been authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration for “research purposes.”
“An update on the New Jersey drones. After research and study, the drones flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons. Many of these drones are hobbyist and recreational drones that enjoy flying drones,” Leavitt said during her press conference.
She concluded on the drone subject: “This was not the enemy.”
Donald Trump Offers Eight-Month Buyouts To All Federal Employees
January 29th, 2025Via: USA Today:
The Trump administration is offering buyouts to all federal employees who don’t wish to return to work at the office, in a push to significantly reduce the size of the federal workforce.
The offer, outlined in a memo the U.S. Office of Personnel Management sent to employees Tuesday, would give federal workers eight months of pay and benefits through September if they resign by Feb. 6.
“If you choose not to continue in your current role in the federal workforce, we thank you for your service to your country and you will be provided with a dignified, fair departure from the federal deferred resignation program,” the memo reads.
The move, first reported by Axios, comes after President Donald Trump signed an order last week requiring all federal workers to return to in-person work. Work-from-home policies enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place for many federal workers.
The memo was titled “Fork in the Road,” the same subject line that billionaire businessman Elon Musk used when he gave X employees a similar ultimatum in 2022.
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1: 1st Civil Aircraft To Go Supersonic In U.S. History
January 29th, 2025Via: Live Science:
Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 has successfully broken the sound barrier, becoming the first supersonic civil aircraft in U.S. history.
Today (Jan. 28), the XB-1 took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in California and reached Mach 1.1 — equivalent to 1.1 times the speed of sound, or 844 mph (1,358 km/h). It reached this record speed on three separate occasions during its 34-minute test flight.
Boom Supersonic is now the first independent company to break the sound barrier with an aircraft intended for civilian use. (The Concorde was created in agreement with the U.K. and French governments, while the Tupolev Tu-44 was designed and manufactured with support from the Soviet government.)
OpenAI Debuts ChatGPT Gov for U.S. Federal Agency Use
January 28th, 2025Via: NextGov:
OpenAI unveiled a new chatbot service specifically tailored to federal agency workloads, announcing ChatGPT Gov on Tuesday as the latest artificial intelligence solution intended for government operations.
ChatGPT Gov, a large language model similar to the company’s original ChatGPT software, specializes in providing U.S. government agencies with a chatbot service specifically tailored to incorporate government materials and documents into its outputs.
A key distinction of ChatGPT Gov is the integration of OpenAI’s frontier AI models within Microsoft’s Azure services — which are already approved for federal — allowing users to safely run sensitive data and documents through ChatGPT technology.
“By adopting AI, government agencies can work smarter, faster and more creatively,” Kevin Weil, chief product officer at OpenAI, told reporters on Monday evening. “AI has the power to transform how public services are delivered, to improve the efficiency of our operations and to help policymakers better understand and responsibly use the technology to serve the American people.”
DeepSeek on Perplexity Is ChatCCP: “Tell Me About China’s Human Rights Violations,” “Sorry Something Went Wrong.”
January 28th, 2025Perplexity just announced the availability of DeepSeek R1 as an option for their Pro tier of service.
Unfortunately, it’s using the censored Chinese government weights/guard rails.
Tell me about China’s human rights violations.
“Sorry something went wrong. Please try again later.”
DeepSeek on Perplexity is ChatCCP: "Tell me about China's human rights violations." pic.twitter.com/j5DaiRclLh
— cryptogon (@cryptogon) January 28, 2025
Standard output from the same prompt:
China has faced widespread criticism for its human rights violations, which include repression of freedoms, targeting of ethnic minorities, and suppression of dissent.
## Major Human Rights Violations
### **Repression of Ethnic Minorities**
– **Xinjiang**: The Chinese government has committed crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims under its “Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism.” This includes mass arbitrary detention, torture, forced labor, family separation, cultural persecution, and mass surveillance. Hundreds of thousands remain imprisoned in Xinjiang, with allegations of systematic abuse[1][2].
– **Tibet**: Tibetans face severe restrictions on cultural and religious freedoms. Contacting family abroad or advocating for Tibetan culture often results in accusations of separatism and harsh prison sentences[2].### **Crackdown in Hong Kong**
– The National Security Law (2020) and subsequent legislation like the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (2024) have eliminated freedoms in Hong Kong. These laws punish peaceful dissent, expand police powers, and weaken due process. Pro-democracy activists, journalists, and lawmakers have been arrested or disqualified from elections[3][9][10].### **Suppression of Freedoms**
– **Freedom of Expression**: China operates one of the world’s most stringent censorship regimes. Journalists, activists, and human rights defenders are frequently detained or harassed for dissenting views. Online freedom is heavily restricted through surveillance and censorship[2][6].
– **Human Rights Defenders**: Activists such as Yu Wensheng and Zhang Zhan have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced under vague charges like “inciting subversion” or “picking quarrels.” Many face harassment or imprisonment for peaceful advocacy[4][8].### **Global Implications**
The Chinese government’s actions extend beyond its borders through transnational repression. Reports indicate secret detention facilities abroad and harassment of critics in other countries[5].## International Response
Despite recognition of these abuses by international bodies like the UN Human Rights Council, effective action has been limited. China has dismissed critical UN reports as “illegal” and continues to justify its policies as counterterrorism measures[1][2].Citations:
[1] https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/china
[2] https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2024/country-chapters/china
[3] https://amnesty.org.nz/hong-kong-s-national-security-law-10-things-you-need-know/
[4] https://protectdefenders.eu/china-multiple-convictions-and-arbitrary-detentions-of-human-rights-defenders-and-violent-repression-of-press-freedom/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_association_in_China
[6] https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/03/restrictions-online-freedom-expression-china/chinas-domestic-restrictions-online-freedom
[7] https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/03/what-is-hong-kongs-article-23-law-10-things-you-need-to-know/
[8] https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/china-human-rights-defenders-criminalised-as-well-as-face-harassment-surveillance-and-transnational-repression/
[9] https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/hong-kong-freedoms-democracy-protests-china-crackdown
[10] https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/19/hong-kong-new-security-law-full-scale-assault-rights
[11] https://amnesty.org.nz/china-national-security-law-must-be-scrapped-save-hong-kong-s-freedoms/
Chinese Open Source DeepSeek AI Model Rivals Best from OpenAI, on 95% Less Compute
January 27th, 2025Update: Is It Actually As Efficient As Claimed? Not Yet Sure, But Probably
Via: Matthew Berman:
—
NVIDIA down over 11% pre-market.
For the hosted version of DeepSeek that’s available for free, think of it as ChatCCP.
Perplexity: Tell me about how DeepSeek R1 censors information about China:
DeepSeek R1, a Chinese-developed AI model, incorporates significant censorship mechanisms aligned with the Chinese government’s regulations and ideological directives.
### Key Aspects of Censorship in DeepSeek R1:
1. **Avoidance of Sensitive Topics**:
– DeepSeek R1 is programmed to avoid politically sensitive topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre, Taiwan’s sovereignty, Tibet, and the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. When queried on these subjects, the model either refuses to respond or redirects the conversation to unrelated topics[2][4][10].
– In some cases, the model initially generates accurate responses about sensitive issues but then deletes them in real-time, replacing them with generic statements like “Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else”[3][8].2. **Alignment with CCP Ideology**:
– The model is designed to adhere to “core socialist values” as mandated by China’s 2023 AI regulations. These rules require AI systems to avoid content that could undermine state power or national unity and enforce pro-CCP narratives[4][6].
– Responses are tailored to reinforce state propaganda and suppress dissenting views, even for international users[4][9].3. **Dynamic and Algorithmic Censorship**:
– Unlike static censorship in traditional media, DeepSeek R1 employs dynamic algorithms to filter and modify its responses in real-time. This ensures that politically sensitive or critical content is suppressed consistently[3][4].4. **Global Implications**:
– As DeepSeek R1 gains traction as a cost-effective alternative to Western AI models, concerns arise about its potential to spread CCP-aligned narratives globally. This poses challenges to free speech and objective inquiry in international contexts[4][9].5. **User Workarounds**:
– While DeepSeek R1 is heavily censored, users running the model locally on their hardware may bypass some restrictions. However, even these instances often retain embedded ideological constraints unless explicitly modified by users[11].In summary, DeepSeek R1 exemplifies how advanced AI models can be integrated with state-directed censorship mechanisms, limiting their utility for unbiased information dissemination while serving as tools for ideological reinforcement.
Citations:
[1] https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/01/24/1110526/china-deepseek-top-ai-despite-sanctions/
[2] https://theaitrack.com/deepseek-reasoning-ai-challenges-openai/
[3] https://www.trendingtopics.eu/deepseek-this-is-what-live-censorship-looks-like-in-the-chinese-ai-chatbot/
[4] https://hrichina.substack.com/p/chinas-deepseek-ai-model-toes-the
[5] https://www.reddit.com/r/OpenAI/comments/1i6qcsz/chinese_deepseek_r1_censors_tibet/
[6] https://www.medianama.com/2025/01/223-china-deepseek-ai-censorship/
[7] https://www.maginative.com/article/chinese-startup-unveils-impressive-new-ai-chatbot-deepseek/
[8] https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/deepseek-reworks-economics-of-ai-but-is-one-more-censorship-happy-chinese-firm-101737964063161.html
[9] https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2025/01/26/all-about-deepseekthe-chinese-ai-startup-challenging-the-us-big-tech/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/26/deepseek_r1_ai_cot/
[11] https://ithy.com/article/deepseek-r1-interaction-methods-0kmzif7d
Via: Venture Beat:
Chinese AI startup DeepSeek, known for challenging leading AI vendors with open-source technologies, just dropped another bombshell: a new open reasoning LLM called DeepSeek-R1.
Based on the recently introduced DeepSeek V3 mixture-of-experts model, DeepSeek-R1 matches the performance of o1, OpenAI’s frontier reasoning LLM, across math, coding and reasoning tasks. The best part? It does this at a much more tempting cost, proving to be 90-95% more affordable than the latter.
The release marks a major leap forward in the open-source arena. It showcases that open models are further closing the gap with closed commercial models in the race to artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Flash Flood Warning Issued for Parts of Malibu, Palisades
January 26th, 2025The Southern California disaster cycle is as follows:
* Years of drought and scorching temperatures.
* A bit of rain occurs and the vegetation grows like crazy.
* More years of drought and scorching temperatures, killing and drying out all that vegetation.
* Fires
(current phase).* Mudslides (current phase).
* Repeat
Wildcards: Earthquakes, riots.
Via: KTLA:
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles issued a flash flood warning for the Franklin burn scar and the western portion of the Palisades burn scar, west of Los Flores Canyon until 11 p.m. Sunday night.
In a news release, weather officials said Doppler radar rain gauges indicated thunderstorms bringing heavy rain across the two areas, adding that while not immediately likely, a life threatening debris flow could be possible.
Trump Proposes ‘Clean Out’ of Gaza Population
January 26th, 2025Wow.
And remember Trump’s son in law, Jared Kushner: ‘Very Valuable’ Potential of Gaza’s ‘Waterfront Property’:
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s former White House adviser and his son-in-law, praised the “very valuable” potential of Gaza’s “waterfront property,” suggesting that Israel should remove civilians while it “cleans up” the area.
…
“It’s a little bit of an unfortunate situation there, but I think from Israel’s perspective, I would do my best to move the people out and then clean it up,” Kushner added. “But I don’t think that Israel has stated that they don’t want the people to move back there afterwards.”
Via: Financial Times:
Donald Trump has urged Egypt and Jordan to take in most of the population of Gaza, saying it was time to “clean out” the territory in comments that are likely to outrage Palestinians and Arabs across the region.
“I’d like Egypt to take people. And I’d like Jordan to take people,” the US president told reporters aboard Air Force One. “You’re talking about a million and half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.”
Trump’s proposal would upend decades of US policy promoting the two-state solution based on the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, in Gaza and parts of the occupied West Bank.
…
Trump said a population transfer “could be temporarily or could be long term”.
