Luxembourg opposes Ukraine’s NATO membership push

"Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel spoke out against Ukraine's NATO accession at the alliance’s foreign ministers meeting in Brussels. "I believe that membership will bring tensions again," he said, citing the high probability of an immediate conflict with Russia if Ukraine joins NATO." NV

South Korean president faces calls to resign after martial law lifted

"Lawmakers and members of South Korea's main opposition party gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to call for the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol following a night of political chaos sparked by his televised declaration of martial law.

The president said as he declared martial law that the measure would be necessary due to the actions of the Democratic Party, a liberal coalition that Yoon accused of controlling parliament, sympathizing with North Korea and paralyzing the government." ABC

President-Elect Trump to Hamas: ‘Release Hostages Now’ or there will be ‘Hell to Pay’

"Following the release of a Hamas propaganda video with footage of Israeli-American soldier Edan Alexander, 20, alive after over 420 days in captivity, as well as the IDF having confirmed the death of American-Israeli Captain Omer Neutra who was abducted during the October 7th attack, Trump is not mincing words.

United States President-elect Donald Trump declared Monday that there will be “hell to pay” if the hostages held by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza are not freed before his inauguration on January 20. The message marked the first time since November’s election that the former chief executive commented on the situation facing captured Israeli citizens in the coastal enclave." SaraCarter

Mysterious 'Car-Sized Drones' Over New Jersey Prompt FBI Investigation

"Several weeks of mysterious drone swarms over the skies of one New Jersey county near the military research and manufacturing facility Picatinny Arsenal have sparked concerns among residents and prompted an FBI investigation.

"It's kind of unsettling," Mike Walsh, a Morris County resident who has spotted the drones on numerous occasions.
The potential national security threat piqued our interest, considering multiple reports that the mysterious drones were observed near Picatinny Arsenal.
PIX11 News said the FBI's Newark field office has joined the investigation with other law enforcement agencies to determine who is flying these drones.
PIX11 News contacted the FAA, which said it's received reports of activity near Morris County. The FAA has two Temporary Flight Restrictions prohibiting drone flights over Picatinny Arsenal and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
"People think they were UFOs or being spied on," Erica Campbell." ZH

Ukraine Vows To Reject Any Alternative To NATO Membership

"A new Ukrainian government statement has made clear the country will reject any alternative to NATO membership if it is proposed as part of a peace plan with Moscow.

Reports of President-elect Trump's peace plan say it hinges on security guarantees while indefinitely postponing Ukraine joining NATO (for at least 20 years). This is precisely what the Zelensky government is now very vocally pushing back against.
A Tuesday statement from the Foreign Ministry asserts, "Having the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not settle for any alternatives, surrogates, or substitutes for Ukraine's full membership in NATO." ZH

192 combat clashes on front lines

"As many as 192 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front line.

In the Kharkiv sector, the enemy made six unsuccessful attempts to break through Ukrainian defenses near Vovchansk, Hlyboke and in the direction of Kozacha Lopan.
In the Kupiansk sector, 13 enemy attacks were recorded, with Ukrainian forces repelling Russian assaults near Lozova, Stelmakhivka, Kolisnykivka, and Pershotravneve.
In the Lyman sector, Russian forces launched nine attacks, trying to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Pershotravneve, Novoiehorivka, Hrekivka, Yampolivka, and Terny.
In the Kramatorsk sector, the occupiers launched three attacks on Ukrainian positions near Stupochky, Bila Hora and Chasiv Yar.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian forces carried out three attacks near Toretsk and Nelipivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 44 Russian assaults near Myroliubivka, Lysivka, Promin, Dachenske, Chumatske, and Novopustynka.
In the Kurakhove sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 44 attacks, with the heaviest fighting recorded near Sontsivka, Zoria, Dalnie, Kurakhivka, Yelyzavetivka and Hannivka.
In the Vremivka sector, Russian troops carried out 25 assaults on Ukrainian positions near Kostiantynopolske, Sukhi Yaly, Rozdolne, Makarivka, and Novodarivka.
In the Orikhiv sector, enemy units launched four attacks on Ukrainian positions near Robotyne, Novodanylivka, and Novoandriivka.
In the Dnipro River sector, Russian invaders launched seven unsuccessful attacks on Ukrainian positions.
Ukrainian forces continue to conduct operations in the Kursk sector, where Russian forces carried out five airstrikes over the past day, using six guided bombs. Ukrainian defenders repelled 30 enemy attacks." Ukrin