Jan 2 – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said that if Iran shoots and violently kills peaceful protesters, the United States of America will come to their rescue. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he said in a Truth Social post. This follows the deaths of several people as Iran’s biggest protests in three years over economic hardship turned violent across multiple provinces. The clashes between protesters and security forces mark a significant escalation in the unrest that has spread across the country since shopkeepers began protesting on Sunday over the government’s handling of a sharp currency slide and rapidly rising prices. Iran’s economy has struggled for years since the U.S. reimposed sanctions in 2018, after Trump withdrew from an international nuclear agreement during his first term. United States President Donald Trump warned on Friday that his country is prepared to step in and protect Iranian protesters if their government starts shooting at them and killing them. The Iranian state-affiliated Fars News Agency previously reported that several people have already been killed in the protests that began earlier this week in the country’s capital city of Tehran, before spreading to other parts of Iran. The protesters called for a change in Iran’s leadership due to high living costs, following the Iranian currency, the rial, hitting its all-time low against the dollar.
Zelenskiy discusses US troop presence in Ukraine with Trump
KYIV, Dec 30 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday Kyiv was discussing with Washington a possible presence of U.S. troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees, and also raised what he called a faked attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence. Zelenskiy told the media in a WhatsApp chat that Kyiv was committed to continuing talks on how to end the war triggered by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion and he was ready to meet Putin in any format. Make sense of the latest ESG trends affecting companies and governments with the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he and Zelenskiy were “maybe very close” to an agreement to end the war although “thorny” territorial issues lingered. He was more cautious than Zelenskiy on security guarantees, but said they were 95% of the way to such an agreement and that he expected European countries to “take over a big part” of that effort with U.S. backing.
On Tuesday, Russia said its negotiating stance would toughen after it accused Kyiv of attacking one of Putin’s Russian presidential residences – an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to scuttle arduous peace talks.
ZELENSKIY KEEN ON US TROOPS IN UKRAINE
Zelenskiy said in his WhatsApp chat that a U.S. troop presence in Ukraine would be a major security boost for Kyiv.
“Of course, we are discussing this with President Trump and with representatives of the (Western) coalition (supporting Kyiv). We want this. We would like this. This would be a strong position of the security guarantees,” he said.
The White House had no comment on the issue of dispatching U.S. troops to Ukraine under any peace settlement with Russia. Zelenskiy said he was willing to meet Putin despite the deep lack of mutual trust he underlined on Monday. “I told President Trump, European leaders I am ready for any format of meeting with Putin. I am not afraid of any format … The main thing is for Russians not to be afraid.” Russia said on Monday Kyiv had targeted a presidential residence in the Novgorod region with 91 long-range attack drones, all of which it said it had intercepted. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the alleged attack as “state terrorism” and said Moscow had already identified targets for retaliatory strikes in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy listens to U.S. President Donald Trump, after Trump said that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to help Ukraine “succeed”, during a press conference at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 28, 2025. “Ukraine and its partners are committed to a path of peace, while Russia has chosen to continue and intensify its war against Ukraine. This is in itself an act of defiance against President Trump’s peace agenda,” the source said. Amid the intensifying peace diplomacy, Russia launched more waves of drones against port infrastructure and civilian ships in Ukraine’s Odesa region on Tuesday, Ukrainian navy and government officials said. Odesa and the wider region nearby are home to the Black Sea ports that are crucial for Ukraine’s foreign trade and the survival of its wartime economy. In the past several months, maritime warfare between Ukraine and Russia has intensified. Both sides have attacked naval and commercial assets in the Black Sea and beyond. Ukraine is increasingly using its sea drones for attacks on ships connected to Russia’s sanctions-busting shadow fleet.
NN: War!
Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm after meeting Netanyahu
PALM BEACH, Florida, Dec 29 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm. Speaking beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump suggested Tehran may be working to restore its weapons programs after a massive U.S. strike in June. “I’ve been reading that they’re building up weapons and other things, and if they are, they’re not using the sites we obliterated, but possibly different sites,” Trump told reporters during a press conference. “We know exactly where they’re going, what they’re doing, and I hope they’re not doing it because we don’t want to waste fuel on a B-2,” he added, referring to the bomber used in the earlier strike. “It’s a 37-hour trip both ways. I don’t want to waste a lot of fuel.” Trump, who has broached a potential nuclear deal with Tehran in recent months, said his talks with Netanyahu focused on advancing the fragile Gaza peace deal he brokered and addressing Israeli concerns over Iran and over Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, said last week that it had conducted missile exercises for the second time this month. Netanyahu said last week that Israel was not seeking a confrontation with Iran, but was aware of the reports, and said he would raise Tehran’s activities with Trump.
A SECOND PHASE IN GAZA?
Trump said he wanted to move to the second phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas reached in October after two years of fighting in Gaza, a progression that entails international peacekeeping forces deployed in the Palestinian enclave.
Israel and Hamas accuse each other of major breaches of the deal and look no closer to accepting the much more difficult steps envisaged for the next phase.
Hamas, which has refused to disarm, has been reasserting its control as Israeli troops remain entrenched in about half the territory.
Israel has indicated that if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully, it will resume military action to make it do so.
During his Monday comments, Trump heaped the blame on the militant group for not disarming more promptly, arguing that Israel had lived up to its side of the deal and warning that Hamas was inviting grave consequences.
“There will be hell to pay,” Trump warned when asked what he will do if Hamas does not lay down its arms. He has made similar statements at previous intervals during the fighting.
Netanyahu said this month that Trump had invited him for the talks, as Washington pushes to establish transitional governance for the Palestinian enclave amid Israeli reluctance to move forward.
The deployment of the international security force was mandated by a November 17 U.N. Security Council resolution. While Washington has brokered three ceasefires involving its longtime ally – between Israel and Hamas, Israel and Iran, and Israel and Lebanon – Netanyahu is wary of Israel’s foes rebuilding their forces after they were considerably weakened in multiple wars.
Overall, Trump’s comments suggested he remains firmly in Netanyahu’s camp, even as some aides have privately questioned the Israeli leader’s commitment to the Gaza ceasefire. His comments also suggested he is willing to risk additional hostilities related to Gaza and Iran, even as Trump has taken credit for resolving Israel’s wars in both places. Trump struck a warm tone as he greeted Netanyahu before their meeting, going so far as to say that Israeli President Isaac Herzog had told him he planned to pardon Netanyahu of corruption-related charges – a conversation Herzog’s office immediately denied took place. Netanyahu reciprocated, telling reporters after the meeting that he was gifting Trump the country’s Israel Prize, which he said has historically been reserved for Israelis.
NN: GAME ON! Any thought that these wars are over is pure fantasy. Oil is a screaming buy!
Trump Zelenskiy Talks Yielded No Breakthrough
- President Donald Trump said he made “a lot of progress” in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over a possible peace deal, but that it might take a few weeks to get it done.
- Zelenskiy said the peace framework is “90% agreed” and that US-Ukraine security guarantees are “100% agreed”, but major sticking points remain, including the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region.
- Trump said he would be willing to speak to Ukraine’s parliament or hold a trilateral meeting with Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that he aims to convene a meeting with Zelenskiy and European leaders in January. President Donald Trump said he made “a lot of progress” in talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over a possible peace deal, but that it might take a few weeks to get it done and there’s no set timeline. The pair met at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort Sunday, where they had lunch and later spoke on the phone with a group of European leaders to brief them on their progress. The tone of their news conference after the meeting was warm, even as it became clear that Trump isn’t much closer to his goal of ending the war that began with Russia’s invasion in 2022. Among the major sticking points left to be resolved: the future of Ukraine’s Donbas region, which is partially occupied by Russian forces. Trump told reporters the issue was still unresolved, but “getting a lot closer.” Trump said he would be willing to speak to Ukraine’s parliament if that would help cement a deal. He also said he could envision a trilateral meeting with Zelenskiy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I see that happening, sure, at the right time,” he said. “We agree that security guarantees is a key milestone in achieving lasting peace, and our teams will continue working on all aspects,” Zelenskiy said. Trump said Europe would take over a big part of the security guarantees for Ukraine. Putin has continued to press his demands, including for Ukraine to cede territories in the country’s east that Moscow’s troops have failed to capture in Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. That’s even as more than 1.1 million Russian troops have been killed and wounded by Western estimates since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion that’s nearing its fifth year, and Russia’s economy faces increasing strain from unprecedented sanctions. On Saturday, Moscow launched a massive airstrike involving more than 500 drones and 40 missiles targeting Kyiv and the country’s key energy facilities — a day after a Russian official accused Ukraine and its European allies of seeking to sabotage an agreement. “Russians are pursuing a campaign built on instilling exhaustion, cold, and fear,” Ukraine Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said on Telegram about the barrage, which killed one person and left about a third of Kyiv’s more than 3 million residents without heating. Russia wants Ukraine to give up a fortress belt of territory in the eastern Donetsk region that Moscow has failed to take by force. Zelenskiy rejects that demand though he has said he’s ready to agree to a demilitarized zone in the area provided Russia also pulled back its forces, something Moscow is unlikely to accept. Another key sticking point has been the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently occupied by Russia. Zelenskiy said last week that Washington was pressing for the facility to be jointly owned by all three sides, while Ukraine is offering to share the plant only with the US.
NN: Another load of reality tv bullshit. Even the oil market manipulators are not buying into this. Oil is up another dollar as the market admits their will be no peace.
Explosions thunder in Kiev, Chernihiv…… Zelensky urges supplies for Ukraine’s air defense
Explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital Kiev and Chernihiv, amid a Russian ballistic missile attack. Currently, air raid alarms remain in effect in all Ukrainian regions. Earlier in the night, Kiev was targeted by hypersonic and ballistic missiles. The city’s Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said four people were hospitalized as a result of the strikes.
Kiev out of power after Russian strikes
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry announced on Saturday that Russia’s latest strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure left Kiev without power. Also affected was the Chernihiv region. “As soon as the security situation allows, rescuers and energy workers will begin to eliminate the consequences of the attack in order to restore power supply in the regions,” the ministry said on Telegram.
Zelensky urges supplies for Ukraine’s air defense
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reaffirmed on Saturday the importance of his country receiving “sufficient” and “timely” supplies of air defense technologies to repel Russia’s continued strikes. “If Russia turns even the Christmas and New Year period into a time of destroyed homes and burned apartments, of ruined power plants, then this sick activity can only be responded to with truly strong steps,” Zelensky wrote on X. “The United States has this capability. Europe has this capability. Many of our partners have this capability. The key is to use it.” Zelensky’s comments came ahead of his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, which will take place at Mar-a-Lago on Sunday.
US Strikes ISIS in Nigeria, Warns ‘More to Come’
The US launched a military strike in Nigeria against Islamic State targets in a security and intelligence collaboration with the African nation’s government, which has been struggling to contain increasing levels of terrorist attacks in parts of the country. President Donald Trump said he directed American forces to carry out “a powerful and deadly strike” against ISIS. Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed the “precision hits on terrorist targets” and said it remains engaged with international partners including the US to address the “persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism.” Oil was steady, and market reaction was muted in thin holiday trading after the attack. Nigeria is a member of OPEC. Trump in November threatened possible US military action against Islamist militants in Nigeria if the country’s government didn’t halt the groups’ “killing of Christians.” At the time, Nigerian dollar bonds fell across the maturity curve, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” Trump said in a social media post. “I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was.”
US Africa Command said in a statement that the attack came “at the request of Nigerian authorities” and killed “multiple ISIS terrorists.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday threatened there would be “more to come” if the group does not stop going after “innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere).” Trump has already designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern over so-called fears about the safety of Christians in the country. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a Trump ally, has also pushed Congress to designate Nigeria a violator of religious freedom. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rejected Trump’s characterization of the country as religiously intolerant. “Terrorist violence in any form whether directed at Christians, Muslims, or other communities remains an affront to Nigeria’s values and to international peace and security,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in the statement posted on X on Friday. Tinubu has been under pressure from a rising Islamist presence in northeastern Nigeria, and the region has seen attacks on dozens of fortified army bases. Suspected Boko Haram insurgents detonated an explosive device late Wednesday at a mosque in Maiduguri, killing at least five people, according to police. Nigeria’s roughly 230 million people are split between Christians and Muslims, and attacks have targeted both communities. Last week, the US launched large-scale airstrikes on more than 70 targets across Syria in response to a deadly attack on American forces there that the president blamed on the Islamic State group. The US has also built up its military presence in the Caribbean, with Trump ordering a “complete blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela and carrying out strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats as he mounts a pressure campaign against the nation’s socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. Critics say the boat attacks are unlawful.
NN: Now its Nigerian oil that will soon come out of the market
China loaded more than 100 ICBMs in silo fields, Pentagon report
China is likely to have loaded more than 100 intercontinental ballistic missiles across its latest three silo fields and has no desire for arms control talks, according to a draft Pentagon report which highlighted Beijing’s growing military ambitions. China is expanding and modernizing its weapons stockpile faster than any other nuclear-armed power, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based non-profit. Beijing has described reports of a military buildup as efforts to “smear and defame China and deliberately mislead the international community.”
The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump said that he may be working on a plan to denuclearize with China and Russia. But the draft Pentagon report, which was seen by Reuters, said Beijing did not appear to be interested. “We continue to see no appetite from Beijing for pursuing such measures or more comprehensive arms control discussions,” the report said. In particular, the report said that China had likely put in more than 100 solid-fuelled DF-31 ICBMs in silo fields close to China’s border with Mongolia – the latest in a series of silo sites. The Pentagon had previously reported the existence of the fields but not the number of missiles loaded. The Pentagon declined to comment. China’s embassy in Washington D.C. said China has “maintained a defensive nuclear strategy, kept its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security, and abided by its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing.” The draft Pentagon report did not identify any potential target of the reported newly placed missiles. U.S. officials noted that the report could change before it was sent to lawmakers. The report said China’s nuclear warhead stockpile was still in the low 600s in 2024, which reflected “a slower rate of production when compared to previous years.” But the report added that China’s nuclear expansion was ongoing and it was on track to have over 1,000 warheads by 2030. China has said it adheres to a “nuclear strategy of self-defense and pursues a no-first-use policy.” Trump has said he wants the United States to resume nuclear weapons testing, but it is unclear what form that will take.
NN: Sooner or later they will getting around to using these new toys
Silver climbs 4.6% to top $75 for the first time……….. Gold hits new all-time high of $4,525
The price of silver continued to climb on Friday, soaring above an all-time high of $75 per ounce for the first time after seeing a 4.6% one-day move. Seemingly, safe-haven demand continues to rise as investors seek protection against growing global uncertainty, buoyed by escalating geopolitical risks and a weakening US dollar. Fed easing bets as inflation cools down and lingering worries about possible disruptions to global supply following the United States’ increased pressure on Venezuela’s oil shipments have further strengthened the rally.
Silver jumped 4.63% at 11:24 am CET, selling for $75.2 per ounce. At the same time, gold was 0.96% higher, going for $4,522.58 per ounce. A minute later, platinum advanced by 2.88% to sell at $2,321.98 per ounce, while palladium added 3.19%, going for $1,839.58 per ounce.
NN: Everybody is long…. YOU know what that means… Time to sell.
Gold hits new all-time high of $4,525
Gold climbed to an all-time high of $4,500 per ounce, extending a rally into the Christmas holidays as demand for precious metals strengthened. The surge reflected investor focus on safe-haven assets during year-end trading, supported by geopolitical uncertainty and broader global tensions. The rise also followed the United States Federal Reserve’s decision two weeks ago to cut its benchmark interest rate. At 7:03 pm ET, gold traded at $4,508.13 an ounce, up 0.24%, while silver rose 0.46% to $71.86. Platinum increased 1.40% to $2,302.66 at 7:04 pm ET and, a minute later, palladium added 0.85% to reach $1,866.39.
NN: I want to short the insanity in silver and i sure as shit want to trade on the short the insanity on gold
Israel strikes Hezbollah sites struck in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated on Friday that it carried out strikes on multiple Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, including a training and qualification compound used by the group’s Radwan Force. In a statement posted on Telegram, the IDF said the compound was used for “drills and training for the terrorists and for advancing attacks against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.” It added that additional strikes hit “weapon storage facilities and terrorist infrastructure sites,” which were utilized by “Hezbollah to advance terror attacks against the State of Israel.” The strikes follow an Israeli attack a day earlier in southern Lebanon that the IDF said killed a senior Hezbollah operative.
NN: Peace my ass!
Israeli informs President Trump about plans to attack Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could inform United States President Donald Trump about plans to launch fresh strikes on Iran, as Israel is concerned that Tehran is boosting its ballistic missile production, NBC reported on Saturday, citing a person familiar with the plans and four former US officials also briefed on the plans. Israel is also alarmed by information suggesting that Iran is rebuilding its uranium enrichment facilities, which the US bombed in June, according to the report. Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump in the US at the end of the month and present him with options for Washington to join any future actions against Tehran, arguing that Iran’s latest actions pose a threat not only to Israel but to the entire Middle East region, the sources said