💻 Cyber
- The AmazonUSPER Threat Intelligence team disrupted active operations attributed to hackers working for the Russian foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU. The hackers targeted customers’ cloud infrastructure, focusing on Western critical infrastructure, especially the energy sector. The threat actor pivoted from exploiting vulnerabilities to leveraging misconfigured customer network edge devices, such as enterprise routers and VPN gateways, for initial access.
[2025-12-18] – link
- A cyberattack on the French interior ministry’s email servers compromised at least a few dozen files, including criminal records. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated on 17 December 2025 that the incident was more serious than initially thought.
[2025-12-17] – link
- The Office of the Ombudsman confirmed it suffered a financially motivated ransomware attack involving unauthorized access to its IT systems. To minimize the threat, systems were taken offline, and the office secured an injunction from the High Court to restrict the publication of potentially stolen information.
[2025-12-18] – link
- A cyberattack disrupted the export operations of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, over the weekend. Internal memos indicated staff were instructed to disconnect from the network and shut down computers, and systems managing the main crude terminal were still offline. PDVSA claimed the breach was limited to some administrative systems.
[2025-12-15] – link
🏗️ Critical Infrastructure
- AIRUSPER delivered its first production-ready electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) cargo aircraft, which is the company’s production cargo model. The aircraft is scheduled to enter service in early 2026.
[2025-12-17] – link
🌍 Geopolitical
- Belgian politicians and senior finance executives were targeted by a campaign of intimidation orchestrated by Russian intelligence, believed to be Russia’s GRU military intelligence. The campaign aimed to persuade the country to block the use of €185bn ($217 billion) in seized Russian assets for Ukraine.
[2025-12-17] – link
- The US administration announced on 16 December 2025 that it was expanding travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries and the Palestinian Authority. The proclamation states the changes will go into effect on 1 January 2025. Some countries whose citizens are banned from entering the US include Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria.
[2025-12-17] – link
- Authorities in Delhi, India, rolled out strict measures on 17 December 2025 to curb severe pollution, including a ban on vehicles not compliant with latest emission control norms and regulating attendance in private and government offices.
[2025-12-17] – link
📣 Activism Terrorism
- Police in London (MET Police) and Manchester (GMP) pledged a further crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Chiefs of both forces said they will arrest anyone chanting the words “globalize the intifada” or holding a placard with the phrase on it.
[2025-12-17] – link