"Iran’s supreme leader has acknowledged the unrest sweeping the country and offered to speak to protesters.In a rare move on Saturday, Ali Khamenei distinguished between legitimate demonstrators and “rioters” – in his first public comments since the protests began last weekend in Tehran.
“Protest is justified, but protest is different from rioting,” he said. “We talk with protesters, but talking with rioters is useless. Rioters must be put in their place.”
It came as Iranian security forces killed at least three more people hours after Donald Trump, the US president, threatened to intervene.
The deaths on Friday night raised the toll to at least 10 since demonstrations over the country’s economic crisis began on Sunday. The unrest has since evolved into anti-regime protests." msn
"Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned what it called a US act of “armed aggression” against Venezuela on Saturday, calling for restraint and warning against further escalation. US President Donald Trump has confirmed strikes took place, claiming that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been captured and flown out of the country." RT
"Genocidal communist dictator Xi Jinping proclaimed that the Chinese oppressed by his Communist Party and the nation of Taiwan “share a bond of blood and kinship,” insisting that China’s colonization of Taiwan was “unstoppable” in an address to mark the new year.
Speaking on New Year’s Eve, Xi used his address to celebrate his regime’s alleged successes, including claiming that China’s weakened economy was in reality more robust than analysts have indicated and that China would always “stand on the right side of history” regarding international conflicts." Breitbart
"Operation 'Absolute Resolve': US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife in an early morning raid and sent him to the US to face criminal charges.
No servicemembers or military equipment was lost
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted.
Trump: "We're going to stay [in Venezuela] until such time as the proper transition can take place.”
Caine: "Operation Absolute Resolve, was discreet, precise, and conducted during the darkest hours of January 2nd"
Hegseth: Maduro "effed around and found out"
Trump: "[Colombia's Pedro] is making cocaine and they're sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass,"
Rubio: "if I were in power in Cuba, I'd be very worried right now"
Maduro has arrived on US soil." ZeroHedge
"A strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean 236 km (147 mi) from Russia around noon at 12.40 pm local time (GMT +11). The quake had a very shallow depth of 33 km (21 mi) and was not felt (o
r at least not reported so)." VD
"Ukrainian Defense Forces clashed 191 times with Russian invaders.
In the Northern Slobozhanshchyna and Kursk sectors, the enemy shelled Ukrainian positions and settlements 63 times, including two rocket artillery strikes.
In the Southern Slobozhanshchyna sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 16 attacks near Vovchansk, Starytsia, Prylipky, and toward Izbytske. Two encounters are ongoing.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 14 times in areas including Synkivka, Nova Kruhliakivka, Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Hlushkivka, Bohuslavka, Kucherivka, and Kurylivka. Four clashes are still ongoing.In the Lyman sector, Russian forces carried out 22 attacks attempting to advance near Novoselivka, Myrne, Zarichne, Yampil, and toward Olhivka, Ozerne, Drobysheve, and Stavky. Two clashes continue.
In the Sloviansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled four enemy attacks near Dronivka, Zakitne, and Nykiforivka.
In the Kostiantynivka sector, the enemy attempted 18 times to breach Ukrainian defenses near Oleksandro-Shultyne, Pleshchiivka, Kleban-Byk, Shcherbynivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and toward Ivanopillia, Berestka, and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Russian forces carried out 31 assaults near Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Zatyshok, Filiia, and toward Bilytske. Fighting continues at four locations. Ukrainian forces reportedly neutralized 33 invaders, 19 of them irreversibly, destroyed 31 drones, one special vehicle, and four personnel shelters.
In the Oleksandrivka sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 17 enemy attacks near Yalta, Vorone, Vyshneve, Solodke, Zlahoda, and Rybne, as well as toward Sosnivka and Andriivka-Klevtsove. Two clashes continue.
In the Huliaipole sector, 33 combat encounters were recorded, with the enemy attempting to advance near Huliaipole, Uspenivka, Dorozhnianka, and toward Dobropillia and Zelene. Russian aviation struck settlements including Zaliznychne, Vozdvyzhivka, Sviatopetrivka, Staroukrainka, Huliaipole, Varvarivka, Rizdvianka, and Bilohiria.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions twice near Stepove and Novoandriivka.
In the Prydniprovske sector, Ukrainian units repelled two enemy attacks." Ukrin
"A strong magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean near the coast of n/a at 10:07 GMT. 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
