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