Moscow reacts after Zelensky appoints granddaughter of Nazi collaborator as adviser

"Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has branded Kiev “a haven for

neo-Nazis” after Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky appointed Chrystia Freeland, a Canadian-born descendant of a documented Nazi collaborator, as his economic development adviser.
Freeland, a leading figure in Canadian politics for over a decade and a virulent Russia critic, has served as Canada’s special envoy for Ukraine’s reconstruction since September. On Monday, Zelensky announced her appointment on Telegram hailing her as an “expert” in economy and finance.
Freeland, however, has a controversial family history. Archival evidence and research show her maternal grandfather, Michael Chomiak, was editor-in-chief of Krakivski Visti, a Ukrainian-language newspaper in occupied Poland and Austria that published Nazi propaganda and anti-Semitic material during World War II. Freeland has long rejected knowledge of these facts." RT

5.7 Earthquake - Shimane, 232 km west of Osaka, Osaka, Japan

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake hit 232 km (144 mi) away from Osaka, Osaka,  Japan, in

the morning at 10.18 am local time (GMT +9). 

The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.

The earthquake was felt over a large region.. The shallow depth of the quake caused it to be felt more strongly near the epicenter than a deeper quake of similar magnitude would." VD

Trump Flips, Has More Info: Ukraine Didn't Target Putin Residence With Drones

"The US President explained American officials had determined that Ukraine did not do it.

According to his newest remarks:
Trump said that "something happened nearby" Putin’s residence but that Americans officials didn't find the Russian president’s residence was targeted.
"I don’t believe that strike happened," Trump told reporters as he traveled back to Washington on Sunday after spending two weeks at his home in Florida. "We don’t believe that happened, now that we’ve been able to check." ZH

Swiss Authorities Freeze Assets Linked To Venezuela's Maduro After US Capture

"Switzerland said on Jan. 5 that it has frozen all assets held in the country by deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his associates." ZH

Confusion As Sporadic Gunfire Erupts Near Venezuela's Presidential Palace Soon After Rodriguez Sworn In

"A mere hours after widespread American mainstream media reports named Maduro's staunchly 'loyal' Vice Presedent Delcy Rodríguez a CIA/US military informer who cooperated with the Trump-ordered invasion which ousted and kidnapped the country's sitting head of state to US soil, there are reports of heavy gunfire engulfing the Venezuelan capital, near the presidential palace. Though there are conflicting reports.

CNN is confirming that something - though we don't know exactly what - is going down (somewhat to be expected after an apparent coup supported by US military invasion):
Gunfire heard near Venezuelan presidential palace: Gunfire was heard in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Monday night, near the Miraflores presidential palace.
Videos geolocated by CNN show what appear to be lights from drones and anti-aircraft fire across the night sky.
It’s unclear what the situation is related to. CNN has reached out to Venezuela’s ministries of communication and foreign affairs for more information.
Celebratory gunfire? The counter-revolution begins? False trigger of anti-air defenses? Or the storming of the presidential palace... BREAKING: Venezuelan Security Forces Open Fire on Unidentified Drones Over Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas.
There are competing reports that the mayhem was triggered by an inbound civilian or hobby drone mistaken for a threat." ZeroHedge

191 frontline clashes over past day

"Ukrainian Defense Forces recorded 191 combat engagements with Russian invaders along the frontline.
Ukrainian aviation, missile forces, and artillery struck seven clusters of enemy personnel, two command posts, one Tor surface-to-air missile system, two UAV control points, four artillery pieces, and two other key Russian targets.

In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out five airstrikes dropping 15 aerial bombs and 94 shelling attacks, including three MLRS strikes.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, the Russians launched five attacks near Vovchansk, Prylipky, and toward Kutkivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, Russian forces conducted three attacks toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, and Kupiansk.
In the Lyman sector, Russian invaders carried out nine attacks attempting to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Nadiia, Zarichne, and toward Drobysheve, Stavky, and Lyman.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled seven enemy assaults near Sviato-Pokrovske, Pazene, and Zakitne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, no enemy offensive actions were reported.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, there were 21 clashes near Oleksandro-Shultyno, Pleshchiivka, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, and toward Stepanivka, Ivanopillia, Kostiantynivka, Berestok, and Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 43 Russian assaults near Chervonyi Lyman, Sukhetske, Zatyshok, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, Dachne, Filiia, and toward Hryshyne and Ivanivka.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, there were 14 enemy attacks near Vyshneve, Zlahoda, Sichneve, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, and toward Ivanivka.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian forces stopped 46 Russian attempts near Uspenivka, Solodke, Huliaipole, and toward Dobropillia, Varvarivka, Zelene, and Pryluky.
In the Orikhiv sector, two clashes occurred near Plavni and toward Prymorske.
In the Prydniprovske sector, the enemy conducted two unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian positions.
In the Volyn and Polissia sectors, no signs of Russian offensive groupings were detected." Ukrin

Head of Holocaust remembrance center says he was ‘right’ to turn down Zelensky

"The chairman of the Jerusalem-based Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center has said it was the right decision to reject a request from Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky to deliver a speech at the institution.

Kiev’s ambassador to Israel approached the center soon after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, asking if Zelensky would be allowed to address members of the national legislature and other officials at the site during an event which would be broadcast internationally. The request was turned down.
According to the chairman of the center, Dani Dayan, he expected Zelensky to draw parallels between the Holocaust and the Ukraine conflict – something that he found unacceptable. “I immediately understood what he was getting at,” Dayan told the German newspaper NOZ in an interview published on Saturday. “Not every war crime is genocide, and not every genocide is a Holocaust.”
Dayan also admitted that he would likely have had to intervene and “interrupt” Zelensky during the event to prevent the Ukrainian leader from distorting history.
“In Ukraine, there were not only victims of the Holocaust. Ukrainians were also [Nazi] accomplices, and, in some cases, primary perpetrators,” Dayan told NOZ, adding that canceling the event was the “right” thing to do." RT

Khamenei's Moscow escape plan revealed as Iran faces potential regime collapse

"The supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reportedly has an "escape plan" that involves fleeing to Russia if the current nationwide protests continue to intensify, British newspaper The Times reported on Sunday.

The plan, called "Plan B" by the British report, would include 86-year-old Khamenei and 20 close people, including family and aides.
It will also involve a way of taking his vast asset network, which, according to a 2013 Reuters investigation cited by The Times, is valued at about $95 billion, and includes the Setad organization, one of the most powerful organizations in Iran, and the Ayatollah's system of semi-state charitable foundations known for their financial obfuscation.
“The ‘plan B’ is for Khamenei and his very close circle of associates and family, including his son and nominated heir apparent, Mojtaba,” The Times said, citing intelligence sources." msn

Attack by over 20 drones reported in Moscow, airports impose restrictions

"Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin has claimed that 23 drones bound for Moscow have been shot down, resulting in restrictions being imposed at three of the capital's four airports." Pravada

Record-breaking King Tides flood San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California coast

"Record-breaking King Tides struck the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of the Northern
California coast on Friday and Saturday, January 2-3, 2026, causing widespread coastal flooding across multiple counties. Tide gauges across the region recorded water levels up to 0.76 m (2.5 feet) above normal, breaking multiple records and prompting road closures, flood warnings, and emergency advisories." W

5.7 Earthquake - Indian Ocean, 364 km north of Prince Edward Island, South Africa

"A strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean 361 km (224 mi) from  South Africa in the afternoon at 4.07 pm local time (GMT +3). The depth of the quake could not be determined, but is assumed to be shallow.

The quake was not felt (or at least not reported so)." VD

154 clashes

"Ukrainian forces engaged in 154 combat clashes with Russian invaders.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy carried out 93 shelling attacks, including one using multiple launch rocket systems.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Ukrainian troops repelled seven enemy attacks in the areas of Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipky, Fyholivka, and toward Izbytske and Kutkivka.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy attempted to advance three times during the day in the areas of Stepova Novoselivka, Pershotravneve, and toward Petropavlivka.

In the Lyman sector, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions nine times near the settlements of Novoselivka, Kolodiazne, and Torske. One engagement is still ongoing.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled six enemy attacks near Dronivka, Siversk, and Sviato-Pokrovske.
In the Kramatorsk sector, one combat engagement took place near Stupochky.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions 17 times. The main offensive efforts were concentrated in the areas of Pleshchiivka, Oleksandro-Shultyne, Rusyn Yar, Yablunivka, and toward Sofiivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, invading units attempted to break through Ukrainian defenses 47 times near the settlements of Shakhove, Nykanorivka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and toward Novopavlivka. Fighting is still ongoing in some locations.
Today in this sector, Ukrainian soldiers neutralized 121 invaders, including 95 killed. They also destroyed 29 UAVs, ten vehicles, a satellite communications terminal, three ground robotic systems, and three ammunition depots. In addition, Ukrainian forces hit one tank and three vehicles.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, the enemy launched 22 attacks near the settlements of Zelenyi Hai, Oleksandrohrad, Sosnivka, Vorone, Oleksiivka, Vyshneve, Solodke, and Yehorivka. Two engagements are still ongoing.
In the Huliaipole sector, Ukrainian forces repelled and stopped 53 Russian attacks in the areas of Zelenyi, Huliaipole, Varvarivka, Dorozhnianka, and toward Sviatopetrivka.
Ukrainian troops also repelled six enemy offensive attempts in the Orikhiv sector near Mala Tokmachka, Shcherbaky, and Stepove." Ukrin

Venezuela’s vice president in Russia after U.S. operation

"Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez is currently in Russia following a U.S. attack on

Venezuela, Reuters reported, citing four sources familiar with her movements.
Three additional sources said her brother, Jorge Rodríguez, the head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, remains in the capital, Caracas.
Reuters noted that earlier on Jan. 3 — the same day reports emerged about Delcy Rodríguez’s presence in Russia — she appeared on state television calling for proof that President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were alive. Jorge Rodríguez has not appeared publicly since the attack." NV

America’s Rivals Quietly Impressed By US Military After Maduro Capture

"In a striking on-air assessment that cut against the network’s usual tone, CNN reported that America’s top global rivals are quietly taking note of the U.S. military’s capabilities following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro.

During a segment on CNN, senior military analyst James Stavridis argued that while adversaries will loudly condemn the operation in public, the reality behind closed doors is far different.
“All three predictably will deplore this kind of activity publicly,” Stavridis said, referring to Russia, China, and Iran. “Privately, they will be impressed with the military capability here. I would argue none of those three militaries could have executed an operation like this.”
Stavridis added that this realization is not insignificant on the world stage. “That’s not a bad thought to pop up in Beijing, Moscow, and Tehran these days,” he said." TP

Venezuela will be governed by US until 'safe, proper, and judicious transition,' Trump says, as Maduro arrives at detention center

"Maduro arrived at a military base in New York around 5:30 p.m. local time and arrived at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn around 9 p.m.. He is being charged with narcoterrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, and possession of machineguns and destructive devices against the United States.
In a press conference on Jan. 3, Trump said that Venezuela will be governed by the U.S. until a "safe, proper, and judicious transition" could take place.

He noted that a second and "much larger" attack wave could take place and had been planned out, but likely won't have to happen anymore following the operation's success.
"All political and military figures in Venezuela should understand that what happened to Maduro can happen to them, and it will happen to them, if they aren't just, fair, and even to their people," Trump warned.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court late on Jan. 3 appointed Maduro's Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as the country's acting president.
Trump said that U.S. oil companies plan to now spend billions of dollars in Venezuela in order to fix the "badly broken" oil infrastructure and start making money for the country, with the eventual goal of selling "large amounts of oil" to other governments.
The administration's foreign policy decision in Venezuela were referred to by Trump as an example of following the Monroe Doctrine strategy and asserting U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere.
"Under the now deposed dictator Maduro, Venezuela was increasingly hosting foreign adversaries in our region and acquiring menacing offensive weapons that could threaten U.S. interests and lives, " Trump said.
"These actions were in violation of the core principles of American foreign policy dating back more than two centuries, from the Monroe Doctrine. They now call it the Donroe Doctrine." KI