Scholz Speaks Out Against Supplying Ukraine With Taurus Missiles After Visit

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated on Wednesday that his position opposing both the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine and the prospect of strikes deep into Russia remains unchanged following his official visit to Kiev." Sputnik

The Jihadists Take 2nd Major Syrian City After Assad's Army Withdraws

"Syrian jihadists led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Hama has become the second major Syrian city to fall to the anti-Assad insurgents since the shock campaign based out of Idlib began last week.

The Syrian national army confirmed in a Thursday statement that it has withdrawn from the city, redeploying its forces "to preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat." ZH

Chinese Illegal Immigrant Shipped Weapons From California To North Korea: DOJ

"A Chinese national illegally residing in Southern California was arrested on Dec. 3 for allegedly exporting firearms, ammunition, and other military items to North Korea.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 41-year-old Shenghua Wen and his co-conspirators allegedly sent at least two shipments of the weapons inside shipping containers from Long Beach through Hong Kong to North Korea.
“During a series of Mirandized interviews, Wen admitted to exporting firearms and ammunition to North Korea at the direction of the North Korean government,” according to the affidavit filed on Nov. 26.
Wen, who arrived in the United States in 2012, has been living here illegally since overstaying his student visa, and is therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition, according to court documents.
Law enforcement searched his home in Ontario, California, on Aug. 14 and seized two devices they say Wen had admitted were to be used militarily by North Korea, “a chemical threat identification device and a hand-held broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices.” On Sept. 6, authorities also seized about 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that they alleged Wen intended to send to North Korea." ZH

Second Baltic Sea communications cable damaged

"An undersea communications cable between Lithuania and Sweden has been damaged in the Baltic Sea. The damaged cable is one of the three that connect Lithuania to the internet. While overall data traffic throughput capacity has been reduced, connectivity for Lithuanian users remains stable." NV

Russian warship fires signal flares at German helicopter over Baltic Sea

"A Russian warship fired signal flares at a Bundeswehr helicopter over the Baltic Sea. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed the incident during a NATO meeting in Brussels. However, she did not specify the date or identify the Russian Navy vessel involved.

The German military helicopter was conducting reconnaissance over the Baltic Sea amidst a rise in sabotage targeting European infrastructure in the region." NV

French Government Falls As PM Barnier Loses Confidence Vote

"French PM Barnier just lost a no-confidence vote (with 331 votes – 288 was needed) forcing his government’s resignation and Macron to appoint a new premier.

The debate before the vote was lively with RN’s Le Pen blasting Barnier’s budget and making it clear he was dead in the water.
“It’s the end of this ephemeral government,” Le Pen declares.
Much of her comments are focused on taxes in Barnier’s budget, saying it was “all about taxes, taxes and more taxes.”
“Where’s all the money? The French want to know,” she said.
On whether Macron should remain in office, Le Pen said that “it’s up to his conscience to decide whether he can sacrifice public action and the fate of France to his own pride.” InfoWars

Here's Why Georgia Chose Russia Over The EU

"Bordered by Russia to the north and Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south, Georgia is taking a sharp turn towards Russia. The government suspended talks on accession to the European Union after the European Parliament resolution on Georgian election fraud. Georgians took to the streets and fierce protests are ongoing; however, looking at the results of the Georgian economy, many things become clear.
The Georgian Dream party has been ruling Georgia almost independently since 2016, although it has been involved in government since 2012, but then as part of a coalition. It is now facing strong unrest in the country after elections that have been allegedly rigged, at least according to the European Parliament. In response, the Georgian government has suspended the accession process to the European Union for four years.

Looking at the economic results, it must be admitted that during the Georgian Dream government, the country developed economically at a very high rate, one of the highest in the world. This year, according to the IMF’s October forecasts, it will see 7.6 percent GDP growth, which is the sixth-highest growth in the world. In 2023, only 11 countries developed faster than Georgia, including Georgia’s neighbor Armenia.
At the same time, Georgia’s most important export is not the famous Georgian wines, but transport equipment. Its foreign sales increased since 2016 from $151 million per year to $872 million in 2023. What’s more, counting the 12 months to the end of October 2024, it is already as much as $2.5 billion, or as much as 36.4 percent of Georgian exports — according to data from the Georgian Statistical Office.
When it comes to wine, Russia is also the largest recipient. In the 10 months of this year, out of the $237 million of wine exports, Russians bought $161 million. Interestingly, Poland is the second-largest recipient, but this means imports amounting to only $13 million.
As can be seen from the above, Georgia’s economy benefits from contacts with Russia. Economic links with the European Union are much smaller. Georgia is making money from the war in Ukraine, fueling one of the highest economic growth rates in the world." ZeroHedge

NATO discussing ceasefire move for Ukraine

"Ukraine’s Western backers are shifting from attempting to push for a military victory against Russia towards trying to gain Kiev the best position to negotiate a ceasefire.

The report comes as Russian forces advance in Donbass at a rate unseen since 2022." RT

168 clashes on front lines in past day

"As many as 168 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded along the front lines.
In the Kharkiv sector, seven enemy attacks were reported near Vovchansk, Vysoka Yaruha, and Hlyboke, where Russian forces actively used bomber aircraft.
In the Kupiansk sector, Ukrainian forces repelled 15 enemy assaults near Kucherivka, Synkivka, Petropavlivka, Pershotravneve, Zelenyi Hai, and Lozova.

In the Lyman sector, the enemy attempted 14 advances near Hrekivka, Druzheliubivka, Makiivka, Terny, and Zarichne but was repelled.
Four attacks were reported in the Toretsk sector, while in the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders stopped 41 assaults near Myroliubivka, Promin, Lysivka, Dachenske, Zhovte, Shevchenko, Pushkine, and Novopustynka. The heaviest fighting was concentrated near Lysivka and Pushkine.
In the Kurakhove sector, 41 enemy assaults were repelled, with Russian forces focusing on Sontsivka, Berestky, Zoria, Novodmytrivka, Kurakhove, Dalnie, Dachne, Romanivka, Yelyzavetivka, and Uspenivka.
In the Vremivka sector, 19 assaults occurred near Zelene Pole, Novodarivka, Kostiantynopolske, and Sukhi Yaly.
No offensive operations were reported in the Huliaipole and Orikhiv sectors, though Russian forces actively used aviation.
In the Dnipro River sector, Russian forces launched five attacks but were met with strong resistance and suffered losses.
No signs of enemy offensive formations were detected in the Volyn and Polissia sectors.
Along the border with the Chernihiv and Sumy regions, Russian forces used artillery and aviation to target Ukrainian settlements from within Russian territory." 

Ukrin

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